Phnom Penh:Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet has appealed to stakeholders for heightened efforts to ensure that all Cambodians have access to adequate and safe nutrition, aiming to eliminate malnutrition by 2030.

According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the Prime Minister's appeal came in a congratulatory message for the 13th National Nutrition Day held under the theme 'Investing in Nutrition Is Investing in People'. Samdech Thipadei emphasized that investment in nutrition is crucial for fostering healthy growth and development, improving learning outcomes, boosting labor productivity, reducing poverty, and achieving sustainable socio-economic development.

Over the past two decades, Cambodia has seen significant improvements in nutrition, with a notable decrease in the prevalence of stunting among children under five from 50 percent to 22 percent, wasting from 17 percent to 9.6 percent, and underweight from 39 percent to 16 percent. Despite these advances, the Royal Government of the Seventh Legislature of the National Assembly continues to prioritize human capital development through the Pentagonal Strategy-Phase 1.

The strategy includes expanding universal healthcare services and enhancing food systems, healthcare, social protection, and access to clean water and sanitation. These measures aim to effectively tackle remaining nutritional challenges, as highlighted by the Prime Minister.