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Mobilizing ambitious and impactful commitments for mainstreaming nutrition in health systems

Mobilizing ambitious and impactful commitments for mainstreaming nutrition in health systems

Progress towards good health for all and the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is only possible when Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is achieved: when everyone, everywhere has access to health services, without risk of financial ruin or impoverishment. As malnutrition increases the risk of illness…

June 18, 2020 - Last update: February 10, 2023

Progress towards good health for all and the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is only possible when Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is achieved: when everyone, everywhere has access to health services, without risk of financial ruin or impoverishment.

As malnutrition increases the risk of illness and death, health goals and UHC are not possible without good nutrition.

 The Tokyo Global Nutrition Summit (N4G) and the United Nations Decade of Action on Nutrition (2016 – 2025) position nutrition as an essential driver of sustainable development and aim to secure new policy and financial commitments to act on malnutrition. The Tokyo N4G presents an opportunity to highlight the need to integrate nutrition actions into national health plans and UHC roadmaps.

Primary health care is the foundation of UHC, a whole-of-society approach towards achieving health and well-being for all. Thus, health service delivery is important for mainstreaming nutrition in UHC. This will require governments and their partners to work towards building functional and resilient health systems, by supporting the integration of cost-effective nutrition interventions into UHC.

Presented in a concise and friendly format, this document is intended for all those involved in health/nutrition policymaking,  health service delivery actors, donors, and UN Agencies among others; and aims to support the policy and financial commitments making process for mainstreaming nutrition into national UHC plans. It provides simple and easy-to-read information for governments and their partners on making SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound) commitments to mainstream essential nutrition actions in UHC.

The proposed SMART commitments are framed around the six pillars of the health system. For each of the pillars, an overarching commitment and priority actions are proposed. Also included are example packages of services to support the priority actions in the Health Service Delivery pillar, featuring many of WHO’s proven effective Essential Nutrition Actions (WHO ENAs). Accompanied are non-exhaustive lists of guidance available on indicators for some example commitments and WHO ENAs. Rationales for the proposed priority actions in the Health Service Delivery pillar, and an overview of WHO ENAs for healthier populations over the life-course are also included.

 

• Mobilizing ambitious and impactful commitments for mainstreaming nutrition in health systems: nutrition in universal health coverage – English

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Nutrition-sensitive