bodyType

customContents

entityId

printArticlePageQuery

filter

article

body

urlAlias

articleSectionsContent

articleSeoArticle

articleSourceHeaderArticle

contentSchemaRenderContent

contentSubHeadlineContent

contentHeadlineContent

mainImagePrintArticleArticle

authorBlockPrintArticleArticle

contentSponsorTagContent

articlePianoPaywallContent

scmpYoutubeContent

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

query printArticlePageQuery(
  $entityId: String!
  $customContents: [CustomContentInput]
  $bodyType: BodyFormatTypeEnum
) {
  article(filter: {entityId: $entityId}) {
    entityId
    body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
      json
    }
    urlAlias
    ...articleSectionsContent
    ...articleSeoArticle_3o8td4
    ...articleSourceHeaderArticle
    ...contentSchemaRenderContent
    ...contentSubHeadlineContent
    ...contentHeadlineContent
    ...mainImagePrintArticleArticle
    ...authorBlockPrintArticleArticle
    ...contentSponsorTagContent
    ...articlePianoPaywallContent
    ...scmpYoutubeContent
    ...hooksTrackPageViewArticle
    id
  }
}

fragment articlePianoPaywallContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksPaywallPromiseContent
}

fragment articleSectionsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        name
        published
      }
      ... on VideoSection {
        name
        published
      }
      ...helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection
      ...entityLink
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment articleSeoArticle_3o8td4 on Article {
  ...hooksArticleSeoArticle
  ...helpersGetArticleTypeArticle
  entityId
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
  summary {
    text
  }
  subHeadline {
    text
  }
  body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
    text
  }
  keywords
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        name
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
  topics {
    name
    entityId
    id
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  images {
    style(filter: {style: "768x768"}) {
      url
    }
  }
  readingTime
}

fragment articleSourceHeaderArticle on Article {
  urlAlias
  ...entityLink
}

fragment authorBlockPrintArticleArticle on Article {
  ...defaultArticleDateContent
  ...authorNamesArticle
}

fragment authorNameAuthor on Author {
  ...entityLink
  name
  entityUuid
}

fragment authorNamesArticle on Article {
  authorLocations
  authors {
    entityId
    location
    ...authorNameAuthor
    id
  }
}

fragment blockquoteQuoteContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment contentHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  socialHeadline
  ...contentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
}

fragment contentNewsletterWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
    id
  }
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        relatedNewsletters {
          ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
          id
        }
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
  ... on Article {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment contentSchemaRenderContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...blockquoteQuoteContent
  ...hooksInlinePlusWidgetContent
  ...imageContent
  ...inlineWidgetContent
  ...photoGalleryWidgetContent
  ...scmpYoutubeContent
}

fragment contentShareWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  shortUrl
  socialHeadline
  headline
  ... on Video {
    youtubeId
  }
}

fragment contentSponsorTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentSubHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  subHeadline {
    json
  }
  summary {
    json
  }
  ...contentSchemaRenderContent
}

fragment defaultArticleDateContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksArticleDateUtilsContent
}

fragment entityLink on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  entityUuid
  urlAlias
  urlRedirect {
    toUrl
    id
  }
  application {
    entityId
    id
  }
  ... on Section {
    fullSectionPath {
      entityId
      id
    }
    parentSection
  }
  ...helpersAppBarVariantBase
  ...helpersApplicationBase
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersAppBarVariantBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsLiveArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...helpersSectionContent
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersApplicationBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
}

fragment helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection on SectionUnion {
  __isSectionUnion: __typename
  ... on Section {
    name
  }
  ... on VideoSection {
    name
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle on Article {
  entityId
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        entityId
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
  disableOffPlatformContent
  sponsorType
  published
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
}

fragment helpersCheckIsLiveArticle on Article {
  flattenTypeIds
  liveArticle {
    status
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    paywallTypes {
      entityUuid
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        entityId
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsStyleArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        entityId
      }
      ... on VideoSection {
        entityId
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersGetArticleTypeArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        entityId
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter on Newsletter {
  entityId
  name
  alternativeName
  description {
    text
  }
  summary {
    text
  }
  homepageDescription {
    text
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle on Article {
  authors {
    types
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersStyleSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersUseContentSponsorContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    sponsor {
      ...sponsorTagSponsor
      name
      type
      id
    }
    id
  }
  ... on Article {
    sponsorType
  }
  ...helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent
}

fragment hooksArticleDateUtilsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  createdDate
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
}

fragment hooksArticleSeoArticle on Article {
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle
  entityId
  headline
  socialHeadline
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
  images {
    generic_og: style(filter: {style: "og_image_scmp_generic"}) {
      url
    }
    styles(filter: {styles: ["og_postmag", "og_image_style", "og_image_scmp_analysis", "og_image_scmp_explainer", "og_image_scmp_editorial", "og_image_scmp_fact_check", "og_image_scmp_debate", "og_image_scmp_live", "og_image_scmp_obituary", "og_image_scmp_opinion", "og_image_scmp_review", "og_image_scmp_series", "og_image_scmp_generic"]}) {
      url
      style
    }
    type
  }
  urlAlias
}

fragment hooksContentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        name
        entityId
        description {
          text
        }
        id
      }
    }
    ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  }
  flag
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        name
      }
      ... on VideoSection {
        name
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
  ...hooksContentHelperContent
}

fragment hooksContentHelperContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle
  ...helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle
  ...helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle
  flag
}

fragment hooksInlinePlusWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment hooksPaywallPromiseContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
}

fragment hooksTrackPageViewArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  publishedDate
  headline
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        name
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  entityUuid
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        name
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment imageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  ...checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent
}

fragment inlineWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentNewsletterWidgetContent
}

fragment mainImagePrintArticleArticle on Article {
  images {
    title
    url
    isSlideshow
    size_652x446: style(filter: {style: "652x446"}) {
      url
    }
  }
}

fragment photoGalleryDialogContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment photoGalleryWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...photoGalleryDialogContent
}

fragment scmpYoutubeContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  publishedDate
}

fragment sponsorTagSponsor on Sponsor {
  name
  type
  images {
    url
  }
}


types

sectionsV2

disableOffPlatformContent

sponsorType

published

headline

socialHeadline

authors

images

publishedDate

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

keywords

topics

readingTime

authorLocations

Leopold Chen

Laos is facing worsening child malnutrition, with experts warning that the country’s economic challenges and underfunding for agriculture are contributing to the crisis, leaving thousands of children at risk of experiencing stunted growth and other serious health complications.
At the 10th National Nutrition Forum in Vientiane, speakers from global agencies and academia said there was a need for comprehensive measures to tackle the crisis, as failure to do so would hurt the Laotian economy.
“Adequate nutrition is essential for a child’s growth, intelligence and future earnings,” Alexander Kremer, the World Bank’s country manager in Laos, said at the forum on Tuesday. “Unfortunately, Laos faces extremely high rates of childhood malnutrition.”
Deputy Prime Minister Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune said it was “important that we build on our past progress and recommit ourselves to ensuring every woman and child” in Laos had access to good nutrition “so they can thrive and fully contribute towards the nation’s development”.
Despite years of efforts to tackle the problem, Laos continues to struggle with alarming levels of childhood malnutrition.
Stunted growth due to a chronic lack of nutrition affected nearly one in every three children under the age of five in Laos as of 2023, according to data from the Lao Social Indicator Survey. About 10.7 per cent of Laotian children were classified as wasting, meaning they were dangerously thin for their height, while 24.3 per cent of them were underweight for their age.
Child malnutrition persists even though Laos has recorded a rice surplus annually since the late 1990s, according to World Bank data.

Experts say the Southeast Asian country has not been able to bolster its food security due to poor infrastructure hampering the transport of rice to many of its provinces.
Apart from poor accessibility in these areas, worsening floods due to climate change have also curtailed agricultural production, according to Dirk Essink, an assistant professor in global health at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
Sayvisene Boulom, deputy head of the Department of Rural Economics and Food Technology at the National University of Laos, told This Week in Asia that despite efforts to promote agricultural production with nutrition goals in mind, Laotians living in rural areas did not have enough resources to produce food. “Food insecurity is a big problem,” Boulom said.
Essink and Boulom said the official data released in 2023 was likely an underestimation of the seriousness of child malnutrition in Laos, as remote areas might have been overlooked in the assessment.
They cited a survey conducted by a team led by them and published in 2020 that showed 72.8 per cent of children living in the Nong district, one of the poorest areas in the country, were stunted – more than double the national average.
A key indicator of child malnutrition was that the overwhelming majority of Laotian children did not have a balanced diet, said Shanny Campbell, country director of the Asian Development Bank’s resident mission to Laos.
The country faces significant food security challenges due to limited dietary diversity
Shanny Campbell, Asian Development Bank
“The country faces significant food security challenges due to limited dietary diversity, with only 2.5 per cent of the population meeting the minimum dietary diversity recommendations,” she said.
Enhancing the nutrition of Laotians is a long-standing policy objective under Vientiane’s National Plan of Action on Nutrition, which is reviewed every five years.
But Vientiane’s commitment towards supporting the plan for the long term has been called into question.
From 2016 to 2019, only 34.5 per cent of the budget for the 2016-2020 plan was allocated, despite 90 per cent of funding coming from international organisations, according to a review conducted by the Laotian government and Unicef.
The World Bank had been urging Vientiane to increase spending on public health, Kremer told This Week in Asia. He noted that the government had reduced the ratio of public health spending to gross domestic product by half since 2013.
“This is partly because of the current economic situation, and partly because of the need to repay foreign debt. The current convergence programmes are just covering the poorest areas of Laos, but there are lots of opportunities to scale them up to reach a larger population,” Kremer said.
Laos has worked with the World Bank on five different projects financed by the global institution to tackle malnutrition among very young children living in the poorest villages.

Boulom said that high inflation in Laos was fuelling its economic slowdown, which in turn was hampering its efforts to tackle malnutrition.
While inflation slowed last year, it remained at an elevated 21.3 per cent with households incurring high expenses, particularly for healthcare and food, according to Laotian media reports.
Laos is also facing a funding shortage to tackle its health problems, partly due to the policies of US President Donald Trump. On his first day in office, Trump ordered all US foreign aid to pause for 90 days, which caused disruptions to many programmes of the US Agency for International Development worldwide.
“With the new policy [stance] of the United States, we cannot secure sufficient international funding for the school lunch intervention as well as other nutrition and agricultural activities,” Boulom said.
In a new initiative to tackle malnutrition, Laos announced earlier this month that it would undertake a major rice fortification project in partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme. The project is aimed at increasing Laotians’ intake of vitamins and minerals by blending the nutrients with rice during the production process.
For Laos to achieve success for this project, it would need more help from its global partners, Boulom said.
“Laos will need to rely on the import of nutrients from overseas. When the government has money, and with donors’ support, you can do it,” he added.
Essink said the project would be key to tackling malnutrition in Laos.
“We have to put food fortification within a package of initiatives, and the most important thing is to ensure that people could produce food locally so that it could be sustainable.”


In Laos, 1 in 3 children has stunted growth despite surplus rice

Health volunteers screen children for acute malnutrition in a village in Taoy, Saravan, Laos. Photo: Unicef

A farmer works in a paddy field in Khammouane province, Laos. Photo: Reuters

A night market selling food in Luang Prabang. Food prices have risen significantly in Laos. Photo: LightRocket via Getty Images

This Week in Asia

Health & Environment

Economics

News

Asia

Southeast Asia

In some poorer areas, stunting is even more prevalent. Experts say a lack of dietary diversity is a big part of the problem


In some poorer areas, stunting is even more prevalent. Experts say a lack of dietary diversity is a big part of the problem.


Laos

Climate change

Food and agriculture

In Laos, 1 in 3 children has stunted growth despite surplus rice

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}In some poorer areas, stunting is even more prevalent. Experts say a lack of dietary diversity is a big part of the problem

In some poorer areas, stunting is even more prevalent. Experts say a lack of dietary diversity is a big part of the problem