11 December 2022 – The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the World Health Organization, have launched the 2023–2030 national nutrition strategy, which aims to achieve better nutrition levels in Jordan.

The Minister of Health Professor Feras Al Hawari said that the strategy reflected the commitment of the Government and other stakeholders in achieving better levels of nutrition for all segments of society. The strategy is in line with the national vision and highlights the necessity of achieving economic and social development goals.

WHO's Representative to Jordan Dr Jamela Al-Raiby noted that, “Proper nutrition is essential for good health and a fundamental right of every human being. Lifestyle changes, as in other counties of WHO's Eastern Mediterranean Region, and the accompanying changes in diets, which have become rich in nutrient-poor and energy-dense foods have led to increased levels of obesity and diet-related noncommunicable diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Other conditions include micronutrient deficiencies, low levels of breastfeeding and continued undernutrition among some groups in the community.

The launch was followed by a dialogue session among key nutrition stakeholderes about how to effectively coordinate efforts to achieve the vision, goals and actions outlined in the implementation framework of the national nutrition strategy within the established time schedule.

The strategy is important because it constitutes a roadmap to guide the efforts of the State and relevant partners to improve nutrition for the entire population, including women of reproductive age, children under 5, adolescents and older people.

WHO is committed to continue supporting the Ministry of Health and other national partners in preventing malnutrition, overweight and obesity, micronutrient deficiencies, and diet-related noncommunicable diseases and to promote sustainable healthy diets, guided by regional and global goals.