FOOD AND NUTRITION SURVEILLANCE - AN INTERNATIONAL OVERVIEW

Systems providing routine food and nutrition surveillance (FNS) in loc al and national populations are essential to the understanding of rela tions between nutrition and health and the implementation of appropria te actions to promote the well-being of those populations. The purpose of an FNS program is to gather, interpret, and disseminate informatio n about nutrition. Functions of FNS systems include national and regio nal planning, monitoring and evaluation of food and nutrition programs , provision of timely warnings of food shortages, problem identificati on, advocacy support, and monitoring food and nutrition effects of str uctural-adjustment policies. The characteristics of an FNS system are determined by its function. Successful FNS systems are community based and action oriented. We reviewed FNS systems throughout the world. wi th special emphasis on those in developing countries.