Fri Nov 07 12:03:35 UTC 2025: News Article:
South Asian Experts Gather in Delhi to Address Hidden Hunger in Mothers, Impact on Infant Brain Development
NEW DELHI, November 7, 2025 – Leading health experts and policymakers from South Asia concluded a two-day conference in Delhi today, focusing on the urgent issue of hidden hunger (micronutrient deficiencies) in pregnant women and its significant impact on infant brain development. The SACMIND Stakeholders Meeting, held at the Sitaram Bhartia Institute of Science and Research, brought together representatives from India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, along with officials from UNICEF and WHO.
Discussions centered on analyzing national survey data from the participating countries to identify actionable steps to improve the health of newborns. Experts emphasized the need to review existing programs aimed at addressing micronutrient deficiencies and to expand their scope to include deficiencies in B12 and Vitamin D.
Dr. Vani Sethi from UNICEF underscored the severity of the problem, stating that 40% of children in South Asia are born with low birth weight. She highlighted the crucial role of maternal micronutrients during pregnancy in improving birth weight and pregnancy outcomes and expressed the importance of studying the role of micronutrient malnutrition in neurodevelopment.
Dr. Jitender Nagpal, Principal Investigator of SACMIND, pointed out the lack of a comprehensive national survey in India to assess micronutrient deficiencies in pregnant women, despite approximately 30 million pregnancies occurring annually. He advocated for strengthening surveillance systems for maternal nutrition to enable data-driven policymaking and action plans, especially regarding deficiencies in B12 and Vitamin D.
The conference aimed to bridge the knowledge gap between micronutrient nutrition during pregnancy and children’s neurodevelopment, informing future policy improvements and ultimately safeguarding the health and development of newborns across South Asia.
Summary of Text:
A two-day conference of South Asian health experts and policymakers concluded in Delhi, addressing micronutrient deficiencies (“hidden hunger”) in pregnant women and its impact on infant neurodevelopment. The conference analyzed national survey data to identify solutions and reviewed existing programs, suggesting expansion to include B12 and Vitamin D deficiencies. Speakers highlighted the high rates of low birth weight in the region and the lack of comprehensive national surveys on maternal nutrition in India. The goal is to improve policies and safeguard newborn health through better understanding and prevention of micronutrient deficiencies during pregnancy.
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