Achieving sustainable development nutrition targets: the challenge for South Asia

摘要

The high levels of malnutrition prevailing worldwide are a cause for concern, despite the importance accorded to addressing the problem in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2030 Agenda. The situation is even more alarming in South Asia with the region having the highest numbers of malnourished children. It is extremely important that the region meets the nutrition and health goals, if the global goals are to be achieved. The aim is to highlight the levels and trends in malnutrition within South Asia and project the progress towards the SDGs. While the region is lagging behind in most of the nutrition indicators, it is found that that the region has very high rates of anemia for women in the reproductive age group. South Asia would miss the targets unless urgent action is taken. This study reiterates the well-established fact that the role of women needs to be strengthened within the region.