Malnutrition reduction progress at halt

17 October 2011, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

Bangladesh's progress in reducing prevalence of underweight children has become static since 2000, a nutrition expert said yesterday. The proportion of underweight children, which was nearly 70 percent in 1990, came down to above 40 percent in 2000, said Dr Tahmeed Ahmed, director, Centre for Nutrition and Food Security, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B). But the progress has stagnated since then due to poor environment, living conditions, and diet, he said, addressing a discussion on food fortification organised by Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) at Sonargaon Hotel in the city. The discussants attributed malnutrition to poverty and lack of diversified food intake as rice dominates consumption basket of most of the people who consume less animal proteins. They recommended for food fortification to reduce micronutrient deficiency and for strong policy and regulatory system to ensure safe and fortified foods. GAIN now supports Bangladesh Standard Testing Institution (BSTI), Unicef, and local refineries to fortify palm and soybean oil to reduce vitamin A deficiency. KH Masud Siddiqui, secretary, Ministry of Industries, said seven refineries will launch next month vegetable oil fortified with vitamin-A. Industries Minister Dilip Barua said Bangladesh ranks 68th in the Global Hunger Index and it represents 6 percent of the world's underweight children. Malnutrition is a major hurdle towards achieving desired level of economic growth, which contributes to 40-50 of total child mortality (per 1000) and reduces GDP by 2-4 percent, he said. "We need to build policy legislation and an enabling environment in Bangladesh around food safety and food fortification so that poor people can get right quality and quantity of nutrition", the minister said, calling upon GAIN to provide technical support expertise and take a lead role in drafting a "National Food Fortification Law". Primary and Mass Education Minister Md Afsarul Ameen said his ministry is to provide hot cooked meal and processed food in selected primary schools under a pilot scheme. In partnership with GAIN, Brac, and Banchte Shekha, the ministry will execute the programme in rural areas of Mymensingh district and some schools in Dhaka. "Based on key learning and success, we can replicate this program across the country", he said. Citing a recent study, Ameen said 60 percent of students attend school with empty stomach and thus affecting quality of education.