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Debhata Upazila making strides in child nutrition

Published : Friday, 9 August, 2024 at 12:00 AM  Count : 492
Mizanur Rahman, back from Satkhira
In the midst of the country's advancements in education, economy, and technology, a critical issue on the unmet nutritional needs of all citizens, particularly children under five years old persists. 
The lack of essential food for cognitive development has left a gap in addressing malnutrition, especially among low-income families. 

Despite this, a beacon of hope shines in Debhata Upazila, Satkhira district, where five unions are making strides in child nutrition. Responding to public demand, the Union Parishad is now allocating funds to the nutrition sector, providing supplements and nutritious food to combat malnutrition.
 
World Vision Bangladesh's "Right2Grow" project further aims to enhance child nutrition, offering a promising path towards a healthier future for the nation's youth. 

The project, partnering with civil society organisation(CSOs) and the private sector, aims to combat malnutrition among children under five by securing local government budgetary allocations in the nutrition sector. 

In the previous fiscal year, Tk 4,40,000 was allocated across five unions in Debhata Upazilla, Satkhira district, resulting in the distribution of essential nutrition to children suffering from malnutrition.

Right2Grow is a consortium advocacy project funded by the Dutch Government and implemented by six development organizations - World Vision Bangladesh, Action Against Hunger, the Center for Economic Governance and Accountability Africa (CEGAA), Max Foundation, Save the Children, and The Hunger Project. It aims to improve nutrition and WASH planning, budgeting, implementation, and accountability at various levels in Bangladesh.

Golam Faruque Babu, Chairman of Parulia Union Parishad of Debhata Upazila in Satkhira District, told the Daily Observer that there is no allocation for us from the national budget in nutrition. But World Vision and CSOs influenced us to allocate funds from our own revenue from Union Parishad. In March 2024, 50 children were given nutritious food, and good results were obtained. More will be allocates in the future. He demanded allocation for malnourished children from the national budget.

Union Parishad Secretary Prabir Hazari praised World Vision for raising awareness about child malnutrition through Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in local villages. CSOs help identify malnourished children and facilitate communication with the Union Parishad. World Vision's motivation has inspired community members to cultivate nutritious vegetables. Collaboration with CSOs has increased nutrition sector allocation within the Union Parishad, with Tk 50,000 allocated for nutrition initiatives in the previous fiscal year. The BMET software streamlines budget data input, enabling public transparency.

Jaganmay Prajesh Biswas, project manager of World Vision, explained that CSOs are engaged and trained in advocacy methods to boost local nutrition. These groups are instrumental in involving the community and driving efforts to enhance nutritional outcomes for residents. CSOs collaborate with Union Parishads and other local government bodies to ensure nutritional development. They are influencing the local government to keep a budget for nutrition. He added that this five-year project is serving approximately 70,000 people from 15,000 families in five unions of Debhata Upazilla.

Data from the project indicates that 80 civil society Organisations (CSOs) in Upazilla are diligently engaged in initiatives to enhance child nutrition. These organizations play a crucial role in identifying malnourished children and their families and organizing yard meetings to educate parents on the importance of nutrition. Collaborating closely with local authorities such as the Union Parishad, they advocate for securing government funding to address community nutritional requirements, resulting in improved nutrition, sanitation, and overall health outcomes in the villages.
 
Shahar Banu, the community promoter of Parulia Union, highlighted the impactful initiatives of the Right2Grow project, emphasizing its role in fostering awareness through engaging courtyard meetings.
 Notably, the community has been actively participating in Children's Growth Monitoring (GMP) sessions, underscoring a growing consciousness around maternal and child nutrition catalyzed by this project.

Liton Ghosh, the General Secretary of CSO's Debhata Upazila Platform and Finance Secretary of South Parulia Sporting Club, has shed light on the challenges faced by the women in the village, who often struggle to voice their concerns. 

Ghosh and fellow CSO members have taken on the role of listening to these issues and advocating for them in ward and union meetings. Their efforts have successfully drawn attention to the crucial need for increased allocation in the nutrition sector, prompting action from the Union Parishad. The monitors the utilization of these allocations to ensure effective implementation.



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