Nutrition services in poor condition
Roundtable told
Although the government has made much progress in some indices of health sector, progress in providing nutrition services to the people still lagging behind in the country, said Senior Secretary of Health and Family Welfare Ministry Md Humayun Kabir yesterday.
“The government has taken some effective measures to enhance the progress in health sector, and it has also achieved some successes in some indices like reduction of maternal and infant death rates," he said.
"But failures to speed up the progress in providing nutrition services pull down the success in the health sector”, he added.
Humayun Kabir made the remarks at a roundtable on "Role of nutrition in increasing good health and working capacity of the women" jointly organised by Plan Bangladesh, a non-government organisation (NGO), and Bangla daily Prothom Alo in the latter's office.
Joint editor of the daily Prothom Alo Abdul Quayum moderated the roundtable where Dr Makhduma Nargis, additional secretary at the health ministry; Prof Khandaker M Sefayet Ullah, director general of Health Department; AKM Amir Hossain, director general of Family Planning Department; Prof Md Ekhlasur Rahman, director of National Nutrition Institution; Plan Bangladesh's Deputy Country Director Anwar Hossain Shikder, and Program Manager Takseen Chowdhury, among others, also spoke.
Speakers at the roundtable said country's women often suffer from different diseases due to lack of quality diet and adolescent pregnancy.
Dr Makhduma Nargis stressed bringing nutrition services to the mainstream of health services provided by the government.
Community clinics can play a significant role in providing the nutrition services in the country, she said.
The government and non-government organisaitons need to work together to ensure the health services to the country's women, she said adding that women should be considered as an important productive workforce.
Prof Sefayet Ullah said activities for raising awareness among people about importance of nutritious food should be increased in the country.
Takseen Chowdhury said country's around 30 percent women suffer from malnourishment, while 15 percent of them suffer from stunted growth for lack of nutrition.
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