http://www.akdn.org/press_release.asp?ID=705
Kampala, Uganda, 5-7 February 2009 – The Aga Khan University (AKU), in partnership with the Government of Uganda and with technical support from the World Health Organisation (WHO), hosted a two-day summit on “Preparing Communities: Chronic Diseases in the Developing Regions of Africa and Asia”.
Speaking at a breakfast session attended by all delegates, Princess Zahra Aga Khan, daughter of His Highness the Aga Khan and member of the Board of Trustees of AKU, noted that whereas it was evident that the rise in chronic diseases was preventable through multi-sector approaches such as the change of lifestyle and diet, Comprehensive Early Childhood Development had been neglected as a preventative approach and was of paramount importance.
According to research, malnutrition at various stages of pregnancy, and exposure to a suboptimal environment has an effect on the body’s immune system, as well as its susceptibility to illnesses in later life such as heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases among others.
“This intervention, if undertaken before and during pregnancy, could have a significant impact on the state of health of a child in early years, but also importantly in later life,” she said.
Complete at : http://www.akdn.org/press_release.asp?ID=705
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