Programs to fight acute malnutrition and under-nutrition in children in outlying parts of urban areas will begin in the next Iranian year (March 20), the Minister of Labor, Cooperatives, and Social Welfare Ali Rabiei said on Saturday. “Last year, the program began in kindergartens with distribution of one hot meal per day, and was extended to border regions this year. It will expand to outlying areas of cities,” he said at an event on hearing health in Tehran. Malnutrition is responsible for one-fifth of diseases across the world. It is estimated to contribute to more than a quarter of all child deaths, although it is rarely listed as the direct cause. “Based on the studies conducted so far, the hot meal program has contributed to preventing such diseases by 40%,” the minister said.
