Abstract
During the past 50 years substantial progress has been made in improving the health and wellbeing citizens of all ages in our region, but particularly of infants and children. Fifty years ago infant mortality was around 130 per 1,000 live births in East Asia and Western Pacific Regions and in some remote areas was even higher. Infant mortality in the region now averages 17 and is as low as 3 in Japan and Korea, and improvement which is substantially due to improved nutrition. However as the region is now facing an epidemic of chronic disease prevention will require continued emphasis on nutrition during the first 1,000 days of life and particularly on breastfeeding.