It is unfortunate that nearly 36 per cent children, aged below five, are severely malnourished in the country. They are too short compared to their age. Such medical condition is called stunting. The rate of stunting or low height is high in our country due to poverty and malnutrition, which are related to each other.
Despite economic growth over the past five years, spikes in food price led to many middle-income and lower income group households to cut down on nutritious food. The prices of essentials have marked a rise through artificial dearth of these items, hoarding by traders, extortion on the highways and so on.
While the government should take measures to monitor such activities and ensure that the prices do not rise abruptly, they can also create an awareness campaign against stunting by using the media. Television, internet and the daily newspapers can play important roles in creating such awareness.
Also, the masses can be taught about how they can eat smartly and healthily so that they can get all the important nutrients in their daily diet while not going above their monthly budget for food.
Bangladesh still has a long way to go to achieve desired results of wiping out malnutrition and poverty from the face of the country.
Mohammed Sohel Hara
Banosree, Dhaka.
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