Existing Policies

MalnutritionBy: Andalib Azfar Chowdhury Nafi Bin Riaz Rafia Farha Iqbal Ahmed Muntasir Mahmud KhanIntroductionOne of the major problems the world is still facing in this 21st century. In 2006 about 58 percent of total deaths are caused by malnutrition. According to the World Health Organization, malnutrition is the biggest contributor tochild mortalitySix million children die of hunger every year.Population Suffering from Malnutrition(In Percentage)

MalnutritionCondition that develops when the body does not get the right amount of thevitamins minerals, and other nutrients it needs to maintain healthy tissues and organ function.

Under NutritionOver Nutrition Current Status of Malnutrition Protein energy malnutrition current status : PEM knows as PCM. 3 forms affect 107% of children under 5 years of age.

Women Malnutrition: In the world India currently has one of the highest rates of malnourished women among 70 % non-pregnant 75% pregnant

Current Status of Malnutrition Slum & Child Malnutrition :malnutrition kills 56,000 children annually in urban slums in India.

Malnutrition Status in Bangladesh Bangladesh has a high child mortality rate and is ranked 57 in the under-5 mortality rank. As 40% of the population in Bangladesh are children malnutrition.The world bank estimates that Bangladesh is ranked 1st in the world of the number of children suffering from malnutrition. 26% of the population are undernourished

Current Status of Malnutrition Efforts to combat malnutrition: Like UNICEF Many programmers and efforts have been implemented to solve the problem of malnutrition in Bangladesh. Night blindness has reduced from 3.76% to 0.04%

Organizations and individuals involved in generating the joint estimates on child malnutrition: More recently, during the 2012 World Health Assembly (WHA), a 13-year comprehensive implementation plan (2012-2025) to address maternal, infant and child nutrition was endorsed. Existing PoliciesBangladesh Civil Society Network for Promoting Nutrition (BCSNPN) acts as the nutrition watch network which aims to create awareness and promote the eradication of malnutrition in Bangladesh

They bring together the civil society members for working together effectively

National Nutrition ProgramThe National Nutrition Program initiated by the Bangladesh National Nutrition Council provides comprehensive nutrition services to around 29 million people at community level

The NNP was disbanded in 2011 and the government began to mainstream the nutrition services mainly driven by an expansion of community clinics run by the Ministry of Health

This project was funded by the World Bank and 16 other donors.Health Population & Nutrition Sector Development Program 2011-2016

Responsible Body:Planning wing of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Objective:Stimulation of demand and improvement of access to and utilization of Health Population and Nutrition services in order to reduce morbidity and mortality; and reduce population growth rate and improve nutritional status, especially of women and children.

National Communication Framework and Plan of Action on Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) 2010

Responsible Body:Institute of Public Health and Nutrition Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Objective: Component of national IYCF strategy, which aims to improve nutritional status, growth and development, health, and survival of infants and young children in Bangladesh through optimal IYCF practices.

National Guidelines for Management of Severely Malnourished Children in Bangladesh 2008Responsible Body:Institute of Public Health Nutrition, Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Objective:Provides guidancefor doctors, senior nurses and other senior health professionals responsible for inpatient therapeutic care of severely malnourished children in health facilities. National guidelines are based on the global guidelines of the World Health Organization, which have been adapted, where necessary, to the context of Bangladesh.

National Strategy for Anemia Prevention and Control in Bangladesh 2007

Responsible Body:Institute of Public Health and Nutrition, Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Objective: Reduction of anemia in high-risk groups by one-quarter by 2015.

Indicator:Anemia prevalence

Recommendation The Bangladesh Integrated National Plan was ineffective due to lack of effective empowerment and political coordination from the managing body (Bangladesh National Nutrition Council)

The country spent 0.03% of GDP instead of the target of 0.5%.

We recommend that reforms should be done in part of the government to successfully carry out the plans and to increase communication as well as empowerment with the governing bodies.

Multisectoral ApproachThe policy was followed by the National Nutrition Program which lacked in therapeutic malnutrition treatment and a multisectoral approach was still not properly implemented leading UNICEF to report that only 20% of the severely malnourished children will be treated in health facilities.

Multisectoral Approach

Spirulina- The new spinach!A new super food known as spirulina, an aquatic micro-organism, can be used as a cheap and effective alternative to combat malnutrition in our country

It is 60% complete protein and a rich source of other vitamins and minerals as well. One gram per day is enough to treat severe malnutrition in a child in a few weeks

SpirulinaIt is relatively simple to cultivate and investment is low so it can be a growing rural industry and provide income for the rural people.

Conclusion Malnutrition is the cause of more than half of all child deaths worldwide. Malnourished children have lowered resistance to infection. The actual number of malnourished children is still rising in many underdeveloped and developing countries.

Malnutrition causes a great deal of physical and emotional suffering and it is a violation of a child's human rights. Combating child malnutrition is of great importance to the future economic and social welfare of countries.

Around 925million undernourished people in the world in 2010, an increase of 80million since 1990, are per year admitted to hospital while suffering from malnutrition, and that is something that needs to change.

We hope that by working closely with hospitals, GP surgeries and care homes we can tackle this important problem and make the world a better place.