The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)are a set of eight goals which United Nations membercountries are committed to reach by 2015. The first MDG isto eradicate poverty and hunger. This report focuses on theattainment of human development-related MDG by sub-nationalunits in Sri Lanka relating to poor and integratingnutrition with other sectoral activities, including health,agriculture, education, economic reform, and ruraldevelopment. It primarily focuses on developing aprogrammatic framework for the health sector. Malnutritionincludes both under nutrition and overweight. Overweightpredisposes the population to higher risks of cardiovasculardiseases, diabetes, and other noncommunicable diseases(NCDs). Even with relatively optimistic assumptions abouteconomic growth, it alone is insufficient to meet the MDGs.The Government of Sri Lanka's (GOSL'S) currentpolicy response to malnutrition consists of three broadstrategies: direct food assistance programs, povertyreduction programs and the provision of an integratedpackage of maternal and child health and nutrition servicesthrough the Ministry of Healthcare and Nutrition.Complementary strategies to reduce poverty or to improveaccess to safe water and sanitation must be specificallydesigned to reduce inequalities. GOSL and the World Bankboth recognize the need to address malnutrition. Sri Lankaneeds to focus on three key changes to appropriately addressmalnutrition: (a) Finance a technically correct set ofstrategies and interventions in an economically justifiableformulation to maximize cost-effectiveness; (b) Ensure ahigh level of political commitment to sustain these actions;and (c) Identify the appropirate instiutional arrangementsand develop necessary capacities in these instiutions.
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