UAE | Health
Regional guidelines to tackle infant malnutrition expected
The Middle East is close to formulating a nutritional guideline and policy for infants when they switch from breastfeeding to solid food. It is based on international guidelines and tailored for the region.
- By Nina Muslim, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:00 May 15, 2006
Dubai: The Middle East is close to formulating a nutritional guideline and policy for infants when they switch from breastfeeding to solid food. It is based on international guidelines and tailored for the region.
Representatives from the Middle East Academy of Paediatric Nutrition (MEAPN), created by Wyeth Nutrition, which develops, manufactures and distributes nutritional products, are collecting data on infant nutrition. An action plan is to be formulated in November.
The eight member countries comprise the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt.
Dr Eric L. Lien, vice-president of nutritional research at Wyeth Nutrition, told Gulf News the guidelines were important to improve infant nutrition during the weaning process, which is low in the region and other parts of the world.
He added that the most common problems included iron, protein, vitamin and calcium deficiencies.
The MEAPN meeting in November will recommend a comprehensive policy on breastfeeding and weaning, which will have to be ratified by each member state.
Dr Lien hopes the process will take less than three years.
Beverly Halchak, senior director of nutrition policy at Wyeth, said deficiency in an infant's diet during the first two years of their life would lead to some developmental problems.
"If they have an iron deficiency growing up, they will have a shorter attention span and be more irritable they will be less focused," she said.
Latest news
- Dubai number plates auction raises Dh27m
- Youngsters dance and raise cash for charity
- Dubai departments upgrade services
- Get yourself a free test for diabetes
- Ensuring a safety net for intellectual property
- Reader's issue addressed
- 5,552 illegals held in Dubai this year
- Man cleared because he took drugs in France
- Man charged with trafficking women
- Auditors to probe Mizin graft case
- Breaking down cultural barriers with photographs
- Abu Dhabi Crown Prince visits Islamic centre
- Transfusion centre launches new toll free number
- Smart e-Gate system launched
- Cyber infidelity creeping out of virtual domain
Community Reports
-
Mirror, mirror show me the way
Driver on Salam Street had so many boxes and fruits piled into car, he would not be able to view rear or right side mirrors
-
Parents should be more vigilant
Reader's picture highlights risk of negligence by caretakers
-
Warming up to ‘Mobilise the Earth' theme
Dubai school dedicates a whole week to celebrating Earth Day with can-collection drives, sapling plantation and painting competition among others
-
Drivers using mobiles put others' lives at risk
Speeding is dangerous for the driver and other motorists
