The forum was organised and chaired by Dr Bai Li from the School for Policy Studies. It was opened by Dr Li, Professor Agnes Nairn (University of Bristol), Dr Francesco Branca (Director of The Department of Nutrition for Health and Development at the World Health Organisation), Mr Jianxin Tian (Deputy Director of The Department of Food Safety Standards, Risk Surveillance and Assessment at The National Health Commission of China), and Dr Gauden Galea (WHO Representative to China).
The event was hosted by the National Health Commission of China and run as part of the UK Medical Research Council funded ‘SYSTAM CHINA SEACS project’.
This pioneering project, led by Dr Li, is a systems approach to co-develop and evaluate multi-duty, population-wide interventions to tackle malnutrition in all its forms with policy makers in China and Southeast Asian (SEA) countries.
Dr Li gave two presentations at the event which covered important outputs from the 1st phase of the project. The first presentation shared innovative application of a systems approach to co-develop systemic interventions for malnutrition in all its forms in the world’s first demonstration city (Fang Cheng Gang). The second presentation reported findings and recommendations from a large, systematic mapping and evaluation of national nutrition surveillance programmes in China and 18 SEA countries.
The aim of the forum was also to discuss the ambitious plans for the next phase of the project to advance national and international policy interventions and surveillance programmes.
Dr Bai Li, Senior Lecturer in the School for Policy Studies, said:
“I am delighted for the high-level enthusiasm and support that partner countries have shown for this ambitious project. I firmly believe that the primary outputs of public health research should be making real impacts on people’s lives by supporting policy making or advancement. I am very much looking forward to our continued collaborations in the subsequent phase of the project and would like to thank all project partners, especially the University of Auckland, Deakin University and Guangxi Medical University for their important contributions in phase 1.”
Dr Francesco Branca, WHO Director of The Department of Nutrition for Health and Development, said:
“I am very confident that this research may provide learning experiences which allow the WHO at the international level to provide good guidance on what should be done internationally. I really appreciate the opportunity for the WHO to participate in this important research project.”
Professor Agnes Nairn, Pro Vice Chancellor of the University of Bristol for Global Engagement, said:
“At Bristol, we find practical solutions to global challenges, enhance understanding and mentor future generations to make an impact on the world. I consider this project very much a core of what Bristol does and should do and I am very proud of our contributions to, and leadership of, this major multi-national project.”
Professor Phil Taylor, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise at the University of Bristol, said:
“This is a fantastic opportunity for the University of Bristol to work with colleagues in China and alongside the world’s leading experts on malnutrition, on what is a truly ground-breaking project. We often talk about pioneering research but this study has the potential to have a significant impact on the double-burden of malnutrition and improve the health and living conditions of billions of people.”