Nutritional Deficiencies: Major Public Health Problem in Nepal

Nutritional deficiency is a major public health challenge in Nepal. Nutritional deficiencies are occurring varying degree of manifestations and have tremendous impact not only on the health of vulnerable population but to the national economy too. Even though quite adequate government policies and guidelines have been prepared, over the years, basic nutrition promotion strategies haven’t been applied seriously at the community level. The major causes of nutritional deficiency in developing country like Nepal is poverty, lack of food security and nutrition education. Combating the deficiency seems a big challenge hence Government should develop more integrated and practical approaches to combat the deficiency. Nutrition promotion and support efforts should be ensured to reach specially to the needy, marginalized populations. Mere policy and strategy cannot yield foreseeable results. There is a strong need to improve the health service delivery systems which can ensure the desired change. This review study is an attempt to the draw attention of concerned authorities and public health researcher, to explore more information which can be helpful in revising the current approaches and in turn helps in achieving government’s desired goal: eradication of hunger and malnutrition from the country.