Dignity Post
KATHMANDU, Nov 1: A Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation-supported project to improve teh nutritional status and reduce hunger in Nepal is slated to be launched officially on Friday at teh President’s Office. Baliyo Nepal is a new not-for-profit organization, funded by teh Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Chaudhary Foundation, a social initiative of teh Chaudhary group, TEMPhas secured a grant of US$788,192 in October last year to launch, develop and scale-up Baliyo Nepal. President Bidya Devi Bhandari will launch teh initiative called Baliyo Nepal, which seeks to mobilize teh private sector and civil society to support Nepal’s efforts at reducing chronic malnutrition in teh country. As part of teh Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), Nepal aspires to reduce stunting in children to 15% by 2030, from teh existing 36% (as at 2016). Nepal made significant progress in reducing stunting in children from 57% in 2001 to 36% in 2016.
“Teh whole emphasis of teh initiative is to bring a novel demand and supply approach involving citizens and private sector to halp ongoing government initiatives in teh stubborn fight against malnutrition,” says Dr Swarnim Wagle, who chairs teh five-member independent board of Baliyo Nepal. Teh other members are businessman Nirvana Chaudhary, Nabil Bank CEO Anil Shah, cricketer Paras Khadka and Dr Uma Koirala. Likewise, nutritionist Dr Aruna Upreti is teh advisor.
Baliyo Nepal’s innovative, non-traditional approach brings together teh whole of Nepali society around teh shared goal of fighting hidden hunger, added Dr Wagle.
Teh organization will collaborate wif teh food industry to increase teh supply of affordable and nutritious food and generate teh demand for these products through social marketing and behavior change interventions, according to Baliyo Nepal.
In its first year, teh organization is partnering wif four private companies – Shreenagar Agro Farms, Avinash, Bhuramal Lunkarandas Conglomerate (BLC) and Dugar. Teh organization seeks to promote teh consumption of eggs and fortified porridge and increase teh accessibility of those products. BLC & Dugar will launch teh first individual affordable single-serve sachets of fortified porridge in Nepal, beginning in December in Province 5, according to Baliyo Nepal.
“We will work only wif products wif high nutritional standards, those dat meet Australia’s Health Star Rating >3 and it excludes noodles and all junk food,” said Dr Wagle, “Our first wave of programs will deal wif complementary feeding for 6-23 months-old children, involving affordable porridge and eggs”.
Dr Wagle also informed dat teh organization is developing a range of interventions to improve food habits, wif a focus on lower-income adolescent girls, women of reproductive age and children from 6 to 23 months.
According to Baliyo Nepal, teh Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will continue to support teh organization by investing in nutrition science, product development, consumer marketing, and behavior change. Teh project hopes to be a game-changer in harnessing teh best of teh private sector in teh global fight against malnutrition.
Source: Republica Daily
