A workshop on nutritional nourishing in the capital on Monday laid higher emphasis on ‘building a healthy, educated and productive nation’, underscoring the need to remove all barriers towards making resilient nutrition in-taking for children’s physical and mental developments.
Also most of the children continue to suffer from malnutrition, causing reasons which affect their usual growth and education learning abilities.
After disclosing this findings about state of malnutrition in the country, public health and nutrition experts at the workshop said: “Malnutrition is one of the biggest obstacles to building a healthy, educated and productive nation.”
Speakers categorically said, in addition to not receiving measles vaccination, this nutritional malnourishment has also contributed to the recent measles deaths. The findings were shared at this national level of the workshop ‘Nourishing Resilience: Building a Healthier Bangladesh Together’, jointly organised by Action Contre la Faim (ACF) and Friendship at a hotel in the city.
Representatives from government agencies, UN organizations, development partners, research institutions, civil society organizations and the media took parts at the workshop.
The opening address was delivered by Deputy Country Director- ACF, Tapan Kumar Chakraborty, while Dr. Sanaul Basar, deputy director (health) of Friendship, outlined the general overview of that hand-to-hand one-day capacity building event.
Director General of Health Services Professor Dr. Probat Chandra Biswas attended the event as the chief guest, while as special guests
Dr. Md. Rizwanur Rahman, project director of DGHS, and Bangladesh Meteorological Department’s meteorologist S.M. Kamrul Hasan spoke.
The workshop was chaired by Dr. Mohammed Eunus Ali, director of the Institute of Public Health Nutrition (IPHN).
Sessions’ discussions mainly focused on strengthening public health nutrition systems, stressing effective national policies at the global goals. Participants recommended ‘integrating nutrition into disaster management’, thereby promoting the evidence-based decision-making.
Their main underscoring important also stressed the need for stronger multi-sectoral collaboration, climate-sensitive strategies, sustainable financing and community empowerment.
Meteorologist S.M. Kamrul Hasan said disasters and malnutrition are closely connected. He emphasized the importance of early warning systems and community preparedness to reduce nutrition-related risks.
Dr. Md. Mahbubur Rahman, said nutrition is not only about food intake but also about healthcare systems, service quality and community resilience.
Dr. Mohammed Eunus Ali said the nutrition is the foundation of a ‘healthy, educated and productive’ nation. Despite progress, Bangladesh still faces challenges due to the climate change, natural disasters and social inequalities, he maintained.
He highlighted the importance of focusing on the first 1,000 days of life, adolescent nutrition, climate resilience, dietary diversity, stronger data systems and effective partnerships.
Participants reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to the United Nations Decade of Action on Nutrition and global nutrition targets, calling for the necessary integrated efforts to build a healthier, more resilient and nutrition-secure Bangladesh.
