NONTHABURI, 25 September 2015 – The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) is preparing to use the growth standards of the World Health Organization to monitor the growth and development of Thai children.
According to Public Health Minister Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn, the WHO growth standards will apply to newborns and children aged below five, starting from October. They will be evaluated by three indexes: weight for age, height for age and weight for height. The WHO growth standards have been adopted after a MOPH survey indicated that 15 percent of Thai children aged under 42 months lagged behind those of other nations in terms of development.
The move is expected to raise parent awareness of the importance of nutrition. The WHO and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) pointed out that proper nourishment not only supports the economy but plays a key role in children’s physical and intellectual advancement.
