Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition Applauds House Appropriations Subcommittee Support of Nutrition

Washington, DC, May 18, 2012 -- The House State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee passed legislation yesterday that highlights nutrition as an integral part of the United States’ overseas development assistance. In addition, the Committee called on the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to implement a cross-sectoral nutrition program, inclusive of agriculture, food aid, and direct health interventions.  GAIN applauds the efforts of the subcommittee in calling attention to the critical role of nutrition in advancing efforts around maternal and child health.

“The language coming out of the House State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee is particularly encouraging as it is an acknowledgement of the fundamental role of nutrition in enhancing maternal and child health programs,” said Marc Van Ameringen, Executive Director of GAIN. “We’re grateful to Chairman Kay Granger and Ranking Member Nita Lowey for their ardent support for the health of women and children worldwide.”

For the past ten years, GAIN has been exclusively focused on increasing access to and consumption of nutritious foods in order to build healthier populations and stronger economies. “Momentum is building for improved nutrition around the world and the United States is an important leader in this movement,” added Mr. Van Ameringen. “It is heartening to see that in the midst of economic pressures, the House State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee is calling attention to those programs that are proven effective, such as nutrition.”

About GAIN
Driven by a vision of a world without malnutrition, GAIN was created in 2002 at a Special Session of the U.N. General Assembly on Children. GAIN builds and supports innovative partnerships among the public and private sectors to increase access to and consumption of nutritious foods necessary for people, communities and economies to be stronger and healthier. With a current reach of over 610 million people (half of whom are women and children) in more than 30 countries GAIN’s goal is to improve the lives of 1.5 billion people within the most vulnerable populations around the world through access to sustainable nutrition solutions.  For more information, please visit us at www.gainhealth.org.