The National Food and Nutrition Security Strategy (2016-2025) for Bhutan emerges as a comprehensive, cross-sectoral response to the complex nutritional challenges facing the country. The strategy is grounded in the recognition that food and nutrition security is a fundamental human right and a cornerstone of the nation's Gross National Happiness (GNH) philosophy. It acknowledges that while Bhutan has made significant progress in health, such as reducing under-five mortality and achieving high immunization rates, serious issues remain, particularly the high prevalence of stunting in rural and eastern regions and widespread micronutrient deficiencies. A central theme of the document is the "double burden" of malnutrition. Bhutan must simultaneously address undernutrition (like stunting and anaemia) and a rising tide of overnutrition and related non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as obesity and diabetes. The strategy adopts a life-course approach, emphasizing that interventions are most critical during the "first 1,000 days" from conception to age two. It highlights the cyclical nature of malnutrition, where undernourished girls become anaemic mothers who then give birth to low-weight children, perpetuating a vicious cycle. The strategy identifies immediate causes (inadequate diet, disease), underlying causes (food insecurity, poor care practices, unhealthy environments), and basic causes (poverty, education, women's status) of malnutrition. To tackle these multifaceted issues, the strategy outlines ten strategic priority areas. These are not confined to the health sector but demand an integrated approach involving agriculture, education, trade, and sanitation. Key focus areas include improving the nutrition of women and children, promoting healthy diets to prevent NCDs, ensuring food security, improving water and sanitation (WASH) to combat diseases like diarrhoea, and strengthening nutrition in special situations like emergencies. The strategy also emphasizes the importance of school feeding programs, food fortification, and the need for robust monitoring and research, especially given the historical outbreaks of peripheral neuropathy linked to thiamine deficiency in schoolchildren. Ultimately, the strategy is not merely a health plan but a blueprint for national development. It positions nutrition as central to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Bhutan's own development targets. It calls for strong governance through a multi-sectoral committee to ensure coordination, financing, and accountability, recognizing that improving the nutritional status of its people is essential for them to lead healthy, active, and productive lives.
Bhutan · 2016-01-01