WHO drafts plan to improve child health

GENEVA, Switzerland, May 23 (UPI) -- More than 100 million children age 5 and under worldwide were underweight in 2010, World Health Organization officials in Switzerland say.

WHO officials in Geneva have drafted a plan committing U.N. member states and development partners to implement priority nutrition interventions and policies on healthcare, education and agriculture to improve the health of mothers and their children worldwide.

The draft plan lists priorities to improve child nutrition, low-birth weight, overweight children, both maternal under-nutrition and overweight and the consequences of vitamin and mineral deficiencies for mothers and children.

WHO officials say malnutrition impairs health, cognitive and physical development, reproductive health, immune systems. It also threatens child and infant survival.

In addition to the 100 million small children worldwide underweight in 2010, at least 170 million were stunted, and micronutrient deficiencies, such as anemia and vitamin A deficiencies are of increasing concern worldwide, the report says.

The draft plan for maternal, young child and infant nutrition was presented to member states of the United Nations for their comments.