Nutrition [EM/RC9/R.6]

m/Rcg/R.6 'Ihe Regional Committee, 1 Having considered t he documant on nu t r i t ion suknitted by the Regional Mrector, Noting that available information on t he m t r i t i o n a l s t a tu s of t he peoples of t he countries of t he Region is still limited; Recognizing that the s t a t e of nu t r i t ion is one of the most important factors i n the soc ia l and economic advancement of a population and that the work output and productivity of t he adul t pogulation depends largely on t h e i r nu t r i t iona l atatus; Considering t h a t t he proper mental and physical development of in fan ts and children depends upon t h e i r s t a t e of nu t r i t i on during their formative years; Noting that, par t ly as a r e su l t of achievements i n the control of comrmnicable disease, there has been a rapid increase i n world popula- t ions including those of countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region, and consequently t h e i r nu t r i t iona l s t a tu s is becoming an i n c ~ e a s i n g problem; Recognizing t h a t measures t o improve the nu t r i t iona l s t a tu s of the populations a re t o a considerable degree governed by the nu t r i t iona l needs a s disclosed by surveys of nu t r i t iona l s ta tus , Noting that a number of countries i n t he Region have established o r a r e planning to establ ish nu t r i t iona l i n s t i t u t e s t o advise t he i r Governments on the measures t o be taken t o improve t he nu t r i t iona l s t a tu s of t h e i r populations, ENDORSES the findings and reconmendations of the FAO/WHO Regional Nutri t ion Colardttee f o r the Near East; RE&UESTS the Regional Director, i n collaboration with t he Food and Agriculture Organization, t o a s s i s t the countries of the Region i n the f i e ld of Nutrition, par t icular ly by: 1. Making s c i en t i f i c surveys of the s t a tu s of nu t r i t ion and of the d i e t of the populations with the object of assessing the extent of the problem and of providing a basis on which act ive measures t o improve the nu t r i t iona l s ta tus of t he population can be planned and executed; 2. Developing and improving p r o g r a m s of education i n nu t r i t ion a s an in tegra l par t of p r o g r a m s of health education; RECCMMENDS t h a t Member S ta tes seek, when appropriate, the a s s i s t - ance of the Regional Director i n t ra ining i n public health methods f o r the control of nu t r i t iona l deficiency diseases, national s t a f f i n a l l categories including auxi l iary personnel. September 1959