COVID-19 is creating a range of new challenges for economic growth and social well-being. In this virtual event, hosted by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) on April 30th, 2020, IFPRI’s experts look at what to expect, and how developing countries can respond in ways that promote food security, nutrition, and greater equity.
COVID-19 and Food Security and Nutrition in Myanmar
In his presentation, Derek Headey, Senior Research Fellow with IFPRI's Poverty, Health, and Nutrition Division (PHND), highlighted available evidence to show that nutrition progress in Myanmar will be threatened by the COVID-19 crisis (Presentation | Blog). Dr. Headey emphasized that Myanmar is not only facing a health and economic crisis but also could very soon be facing a nutritional crisis. Additionally, the impacts of COVID-19 will further damage vulnerable groups through two main mechanisms: dietary quality and healthcare.
"We can expect rapid and large increases in micronutrient deficiencies. In the longer term, we will potentially see increases in child stunting, which is closely linked to dietary quality, especially the consumption of animal-source foods. In households facing extreme poverty, we can expect a rise in severe acute malnutrition as well."
"COVID-19 is already diverting resources away from core maternal and child health activities...[It] will also jeopardize regular but lifesaving efforts to prevent infectious diseases, and these will become more prevalent with the monsoon."
Action items for protecting food security and nutrition
In his presentation, Dr. Headey also presented key action items for protecting food security and nutrition in Myanmar throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Advocate for nutritional protection in COVID-19 response.
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Scale up social protection
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Keep agri-food systems functioning.
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Facilitate COVID-safe food system innovations.
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Support enhanced homestead food production.
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Stimulate demand for nutrient-rich foods.
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Prevent the collapse of basic maternal and child health services.
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Scale up win-win water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) measures.
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Support community-based management of acute malnutrition.
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Set up food- and nutrition-security surveillance systems.
View the full coverage of the virtual event, including information on the speakers and their presentations, here.
This blog post was prepared by Michael Wang, Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellow at IFPRI.