Invitation to an open discussion
on the political outcome document of the ICN2
Comment Form
Personal information
Name: Maria Lourdes A Vega
Strawberry C. Francia
Organization: National Nutrition Council
Location: Philippines
Email: didi.vega@nnc.gov.ph berry_francia@yahoo.com nppdnnc@yahoo.com
1. General comments on the Draft of the Rome Declaration on Nutrition.
• The political document does not explicitly support what has been discussed in the
Lancet Series on Maternal and Child Nutrition. It has very little discussion on
breastfeeding, and most especially complementary feeding and concerns related to the
first 1000 days of life. Thus, effort to address malnutrition during these life stages is
limited in this document. This should be strengthened in the document.
• There is also a need to integrate related concerns from the post-2015 development
agenda and the Scaling Up Nutrition Movement.
• The targets set forth in this document must also be in line with the global targets
committed for 2025 which states the following:
~ 40% reduction in the number of children under-five who are stunted
~ 50% reduction of anemia in women of reproductive age
~ 30% reduction in low birth weight infants
~ Nno increase in childhood overweight
~ increase the rate of exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months up to at least 50%
~ reduce and maintain childhood wasting to less than 5%
• We also suggest for the FAO and WHO to develop a mechanism for alert notifications
to member countries who joined the ICN2 forum last November 2013 in Rome for recent
updates that may be available in the website. We very much welcome the idea of
subscription to the ICN2 forum to keep track of the discussion and the latest documents
being released.
2. Specific comments on the paragraphs related to the multiple threats that
malnutrition poses to sustainable development (paragraphs 4-10).
• Paragraph #4 should specify or state that undernutrition “at an early age” is the
greatest determining factor on the negative “irreversible effect” on productivity and
achievement of human potential in adulthood.
• In paragraph #10, it is important to take note that the rate of decline in underweight,
stunting and wasting is slow.
• Paragraph 10.e can correlate the impact of undernutrition at an early age on
overweight and obesity during adulthood
3. Specific comments on the vision for global action to end all forms of
malnutrition (paragraphs 11-12).
• There is a need to specify in paragraph #11.a young children and pregnant and
lactating women.
• Paragraph 11.e. should also include strengthening of the milk code as breastfeeding
has a great role in curbing undernutrition at an early age.
4. Specific comments in the appropriate fields relating to these commitments
(paragraph 13):
Commitment a): eradicate hunger and all forms of malnutrition, particularly to
eliminate stunting, wasting and overweight in children under 5 and anemia in
women; eliminating undernourishment and reversing rising trends in obesity;
• Include the elimination of underweight in children under 5 in paragraph #13.a.
5. We would also appreciate your vision on policies, programmes and
investment that might help translate such commitments into action.
• We suggest the intensification of exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of
life and the promotion of infant and young child feeding which particularly discusses the
proper complementary feeding from 6 months onwards together with continued
breastfeeding.
Please refer to the SUN Movement and WHA nutrition related resolutions for policies and
programs.
Thank you.