Malnutrition persists in children

ALTHOUGH social safety net programmes (SSNPs) in the country have borne huge dividends for combating hunger in the country, malnutrition among children remains a major problem. This has come to light through a study conducted by the prestigious International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) which concluded that the transfer of food or cash through SSNPs would be ineffective in addressing issues of nutrition for growing children unless nutrition-specific messages were incorporated in the safety net programmes. What has come to light is that if behaviour change communication (BCC) is made part and parcel of the information package that safety net programmes disseminate among the target populace then the real threat of malnutrition and stunting could be brought down four times faster than present rates.

With more than a third of children under the age of 5 being stunted and malnutrition claiming the lives of more than 3million children aged 5 and below, any change in policy that could help reduce numbers – by raising awareness on the needs of children's nutrition must be prioritised as an essential change. Presently SSNPs target mothers belonging to the ultra-poor category and it is here that BCC messaging can make the difference between life and death for millions of children.

Bangladesh has taken great strides in reducing poverty over the last two decades. As the issue of stunted growth resulting from malnutrition can be reduced greatly, we would sincerely hope that authorities will take these findings to heart and make necessary changes to make social safety net programmes more effective.