The Ministry of Health represented by the Directorate General of Primary Health Care’s Nutrition Department in partnership with the World Health Organization Office in Oman, launched today (Thursday) the National Nutrition Strategy and Work frame 2020-2030 at the Sheraton under the patronage of Minister of Health H.E. Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Al Saidi with the presence of number of Excellencies.

The launching was commenced by an address of Dr. Saeed Al Lamki, Director General of Primary Health Care where he affirmed that health is the responsibility of all, pointing out that the Sultanate is launching the Nutrition Strategy to exploit the expertise of WHO and FAO in addressing some risk factors in community.

Moreover, Dr. Ahmed Al Mandhari, Regional Director of WHO-EMR highlighted the Sultanate’s achievements in the field of nutrition that is seen for example in reducing the stunting prevalence rate over two past decades. 

WHO representative in Oman, H.E. Dr. Jean Jabbour pointed out that the Strategy is important to enhance nutrition in society, and help to make fateful decisions that lead to improving health in society.

the National Nutrition Strategy 2020-2030, which is derived from Oman Vision 2040, aim at promoting the work in the Nutrition to achieve food security and eliminate all forms of malnutrition in addition to enhancing nutrition for life by 2030. This is realized by the cooperation of relevant public and private sectors for achieving the fundamental objectives that strengthen the health and nutrition status of community.

It is noteworthy that the Sultanate has made great progress in reducing the prevalence of various forms of undernourishment in the past four decades against the perceived rapid social and economic development. However, the prevalence of some forms of undernourishment remains significantly high, with 11.4% of children under five suffering from stunting (chronic malnutrition) and 9.3% suffering from wasting (acute malnutrition), as per the National Nutrition Survey 2017.

Like other Eastern Mediterranean Region countries, Oman is experiencing a nutritional transition as other forms of malnutrition, including overweight, obesity and nutrition-related non-communicable diseases (N-NCDs) are becoming increasingly important.

Oman’s National Nutrition Strategy vision for the next ten years aligns well with the WHO Regional Nutrition Strategy, which predicts that “Oman has strengthened action on nutrition to achieve food security, eliminate all forms of malnutrition and improve life-course nutrition by 2030”.

The objective of the strategy is to ensure universal access to healthy and sustainable diets, and implement effective nutritional actions, targeting a life-cycle approach to mothers, infants, children, adolescents and the elderly in all settings including emergencies.

Moreover, the strategy sets out the specific goals to be achieved, as well as the basic principles and strategic approach that includes multi-sectoral action and addressing social challenges affecting health indicators. The strategy and its framework identified a multisectoral approach, across the whole of government and community to address the persistent problems of stunting and wasting as well as the increasing problems of overweight, obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases.