Nutrition shortfalls harming Kingdom’s economy, report finds
Malnutrition costs the Cambodian economy an estimated $266 million each year, according to a new report, which urged the government to invest more in tackling the problem. Suboptimal breastfeeding and malnutrition in mothers were also factors, accounting for $36.9 million, which Wieringa said pointed to an intergenerational cycle of poor nutrition. “Child malnutrition is caused by several factors including insufficient nutritious food intake, use of unsafe water, lack of proper toilets and unhygienic conditions which lead to exposure to diseases such as diarrhea, and lack of proper feeding practices at home,” said Iman Morooka, a spokesperson for UNICEF.
