Dili, Oct. 10, 2024 (Lusa) - Timor-Leste's goverment, at an extraordinary cabinet meeting on Thursday, approved the National Multisectoral Plan to Combat Stunting, which affects almost half of the country's children under the age of 5.

The plan, which is to be implemented between now and 2030, aims to "provide a framework for coordinated and multisectoral action" to combat stunting and its main goals include "increasing the breastfeeding rate" and "improving children's diets," according to the statement released after the cabinet meeting.

According to data from the World Food Programme, 47% of children under the age of 5 in Timor-Leste have stunted growth and 8.6% suffer from acute malnutrition, while 23% of women of reproductive age are anaemic, as are 63% of children under the age of 5.

With the plan, the Timorese government aims to reduce the rate of stunting in children under 5 from the current 47% to less than 25% by 2030, as well as reducing anaemia in children and women of reproductive age.

The government also wants the plan to "improve the coordination of nutrition programmes" and "promote changes in social behaviour to improve nutritional health," the statement notes.

According to the government, the implementation of the plan will be led by a mission unit, which will collaborate with various ministries and development partners.

MSE/ARO // ARO.

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