AMMAN — Health Minister Firas Hawari has reaffirmed his
ministry's commitment to achieving key health and nutrition goals, such as
breastfeeding and feeding children under the age of five, and women of
reproductive age, as well as reducing the double burden caused by the high
prevalence of overweight, obesity, and micronutrient deficiencies.
اضافة اعلان
The minister made the remarks on
Tuesday at the start of the first scientific forum on maternal, infant, and
young child nutrition, which is being held by the Ministry of Health in
collaboration with the Jordan Nutrition Innovation Lab, a Tufts University-led
project funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
Jordan has reduced the prevalence of malnutrition through the rollout of food
fortification policies and programs, most notably flour fortification, salt iodization,
and a program to distribute vitamin A capsules, according to the minister.
He indicated that Jordan's health
policy is primarily informed by science and dialogue with the local, regional,
and international academic community, emphasizing the value this conference
adds to the exchange of cutting-edge knowledge and evidence for the advancement
of science-based practices.
Director of USAID mission in Jordan
Sherry F. Carlin said that the conference will play a crucial role in
establishing a forum for the exchange of information and best practices that
will bring about a paradigm shift in the Jordanian health sector, particularly
with regard to maternal and child nutrition and health indicators.
Carlin said that the Jordan
Community Health and Nutrition Project, which is funded by USAID, had recently
launched the first local Lactation Consultant Certification to promote healthy
breastfeeding practices.
In addition to empowering women,
this initiative will help decrease childhood developmental delays, obesity
risks, and non-communicable disease rates, she asserted.
Iman Badran, the chair of the
scientific committee of the conference, indicated that the event aims to
advance evidence-based practices for healthy diets and nutrition for women,
newborns, and young children.
She said that the three-day
conference will examine the most recent scientific evidence pertaining to the
health and nutrition of mothers, infants, and young children in Jordan, as well
as the synergies between this evidence and current programs and policies.
Officials from the Ministry of Health, UN organizations, academics from various
Jordanian universities, USAID programming officers, and other nutrition and
maternal and child health specialists and researchers are slated to speak at
the conference.
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