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.
Share this article
More from UAE Health
More from UAE
Popular in UAE
-
Your pictures
Readers' pictures
A Selection of the best Gulf News reader pictures this week
Latest news
- UAE pilgrims are well and safe: Mission chief
- Appeals court acquits gardener of rape charge
- Woman injured in fall from balcony
- Suspects deny charges of trafficking and assault
- Reader helps police to bust brothel
- Mohammad receives Iceland's president
- Faded signage fails to guide visitors
- Tory chief vows to bolster ties with the UAE
- Hypertension affecting 36% of UAE population
- Friendship festival loses steam due to lack of sponsors
- Ministries to help cut waistlines in schools
- Space experience awaits students at US camp
- Rare wild cat discovered in Fujairah wadi
- Gang who robbed Dh1m from businessman nabbed
- Chinese duo held for assault, blackmail
Community Reports
-
Faded signage fails to guide visitors
Reader seeks better upkeep of signboards in green areas
-
Noise pollution must be regulated
Residents are finding it difficult to sleep well at night owing to ongoing construction work
-
Protect our children's health
Dust and dirt from a nearby road are causing problems to those frequenting Al Nasseriya park, Sharjah.
-
Keeping out curious cats in Abu Dhabi
Felines trapped in electrical substations create a nuisance
