Multi-sectoral approach needed to reduce maternal mortality

Nutrition for mothers and children can be ensured not only by increasing access to quality food, but also changing nutrition-related behaviours, health services and water and sanitation practices, suggested Care Bangladesh.

The fostering of multi-sectoral approach is necessary in reducing maternal mortality rate and improving infant and child health, the humanitarian organisation said at a sharing event.

Care Bangladesh organised the programme on Monday, July 2, at Chameli­ Hall of Cirdap in Dhaka, presenting the achievements of a nutrition programme which it is being implemented in association with the government in two upazilas of Sunamganj, according to a release.

In the welcome speech, Assistant Country Director of CARE Bangladesh Probodh Devkota pointed that malnutrition specially affects young women and children, adding that although Bangladesh tackled malnutrition significantly, there are still a lot to be done to completely eradicate malnutrition.

He thanked the Bangladesh Government for the recent initiatives that were taken to eliminate malnutrition from the country.

Probodh Devkota also presented that a team of experts from CARE Bangladesh is always present to deliver an innovative model to solve nutrition issues.  

Realising the need of attention in the nutrition sector, CARE Bangladesh implemented the project “Nutrition at the Center” on the basis of multi-sectoral approach in Bishwamverpur and Derai Upazila of Sunamganj district to tackle malnutrition.

Nazneen Rahman from CARE Bangladesh presented a brief overview of the project and while Professor ACPR (Associates for Community and Population Research) Rezaul Haque presented its findings.

Khrist Roy, technical advisor of “Nutrition at the Center”- CARE USA, drew conclusions of the presentation. He also thanked the local government and all the administrative staffs for their contribution in implementing the project.

It was evident that the project gained significant success in removing stunting among children and in creating a diversified food habit among women and children.

“Care Bangladesh's Nutrition at the Centre Project has set an example in implementing multi-sectoral nutrition activities at a field level,” observed Zahid Maleque, state minster for health and family welfare, at a discussion.

Before implementation of the project, a survey in 2014 in Derai and Biswamberpur of Sunamganj, found 28.4 percent children aged between 6 and 23 months had minimal acceptable diet and 85.3 percent were anaemic. Nearly 45 percent children aged 0 to 35 months were underweight. About 31 percent non-pregnant women were anaemic and 38.5 percent had low BMI.

Four years later, the impact of the project was measured this year through various indicators like reduction in stunting among children under three years, reduction in anaemia among children under 6-23 months and reduction in anaemia among women of reproductive age of 15 to 49 years.

Md Habibur Rahman Khan, additional secretary, Health Services Division (Public Health and World Health), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; Md Ruhul Amin Talukder, joint secretary, Health Division, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; Jennifer Orgle, program director- Nutrition at the Center, CARE USA and Dr Samir Kanti Sarkar, director- Institute of Public Health Nutrition & Line Director, National Nutrition Services were present as special guests of the event. Dr Shah Nawaz, director general, Bangladesh National Nutrition Council (BNNC), presided over the event.

There are many ways to make people conscious about nutrition, Md Habibur Rahman Khan said, adding that observing National Nutrition Week is a good way to raise awareness against malnutrition.

He also said that the Government is trying to establish a multi-sectoral platform in Upazila level by 2020.

Mentioning Bishwamverpur Upazila of Sunamgnj district as a model in nutritional development, Md Ruhul Amin Talukder appreciated the efforts of the teams involved in the project.

Expressing satisfaction on the success of the project, he also stated that he was really surprised to find out that a chairman of Upazila Parishad internalised nutrition as an emergency and was actively involved with establishing multi-sectoral platform.

Presently Bangladesh government has many active policies to address malnutrition. If this process keeps on progressing, then a golden generation will be produced.

To address stunting through a multi-sectoral approach, the experience of Sunamganj can be utilised, said Jennifer Orgle.

She also emphasised on the collective effort to improve nutrition.

“Every Tuesday my organisation communicates with 74 upazilas to solve nutritional problems through video conferencing. This practice helped us a lot to build a community and a productive platform,” said Dr Samir Kanti Sarkar.

He promised the support from their end to ensure an efficient mechanism of the multi-sectoral approach.

Bangladesh National Nutrition Council awarded Bishwamverpur Upazila of Sunamganj district for their outstanding performance in observing National Nutrition Week 2018. Civil surgeon Dr Ashutosh Das, Chairman of Bishwamverpur Upazila Harunur Rashid and Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Chowdhury Jalal Uddin Murshed received the prize. At this stage, beneficiaries from the project area expressed their views.

During his speech, Director General of BNNC Dr Shah Nawaz appreciated the multi-sectoral approach in eliminating malnutrition. In his closing remarks, he said that Bangladesh government took under consideration the inclusion of multi-sectoral approach by forming Upazila Nutrition Coordination Committee in the sub-district level. 

The event concluded with the launching event of Collective Impact for Nutrition (CI4N), which is the second phase of “Nutrition at the Center”.