Thailand joins ICN2 in Italy

BANGKOK, November 19 (TNA) - Thailand participates in the Second International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2), under the theme "Better Nutrition for Better Lives", set to be held in Rome from November 19-21. Public Health Minister Dr. Ratchata Ratchatanawin represents Thailand to attend the three-day ICN2 in the Italian capital, in which other world ministers and high-ranking officials concerned, as well as nutrition experts also participate. The ICN2, jointly organised by two United Nations arms, including the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), is aimed to solve global nutrition-related problems, including malnutrition and over-consumption, as statistics show that over 20 million children worldwide, aged under three years, have died from acute malnutrition annually, mostly in Africa and Southeast Asia. Discussions at the ICN2 include approaches on developing global policies and operational frameworks on nutrition in the 21st century to meet the UN goal by 2025. The Thai public health minister told journalists prior to his departure from Bangkok that discussions at the ICN2 will be focused on solutions to nutrition-related problems in women, mothers and children, particularly those in impoverished nations. In case of Thailand, the public health minister said he is ready to exchange relevant experiences on the world stage and jointly work out strategies with the international community to solve the global nutrition-related problems, which will then be included in the Rome Declaration, to be issued at the end of the three-day ICN2. (TNA)