Washington- The world’s second-richest person Bill Gates has applauded Nepal’s efforts in reducing stunting in a recent video titled “Why do some countries excel at saving lives?” The video focuses on Nepal’s progress in tackling stunting.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “stunting is the impaired growth and development that children experience from poor nutrition, repeated infection, and inadequate psychosocial stimulation.”
“Nepal has done a better job in reducing stunting than other countries,” Gates stated. “In 2001, 57% of their kids were stunted, but by 2016, it was down to 36%.”
He added that “[Nepal] has invested in their health system and driven up births in health facilities. They also changed their sanitation practices. They discouraged open defecation, and so the exposure in the environment to human waste that causes diarrheal diseases was greatly reduced.”
Gates also talked about Nepal’s increasing school attendance and growing income.
In 2019, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation had supported a project of Baliyo Nepal to improve the nutritional status and reduce hunger in Nepal.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation was found by the duo in 2000. It is reported to be the largest private foundation in the world, holding $46.8 billion in assets.
Aashish Sunar, Sub-Editor and Writer for Kathmandu Pati English, covers issues on politics, marginalized communities, international relations, economics, and sports. He is pursuing an undergraduate degree in International Studies and Economics at Soka University of America. He tweets @imAashishSunar.
