Directive to supervise nutrition services

Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr AFM Ruhal Haque on Thursday directed all the divisional directors, civil surgeons and family planning experts to properly supervise nutrition services so that people could reap benefits from the programme, reports UNB. The minister gave the directive while addressing a campaign programme of National Nutrition Services (NNS) at Bangladesh Medical Resources Council in the city. Prime Minister's (PM) Health Affairs Adviser Prof Syed Modasser Ali, Secretary General of Bangladesh Medical Association Prof Dr Sharfuddin Ahmed and Health Secretary M Humayun Kabir were, among others, present. Apart from NNS, the Health Minister said, nutrition services have to be provided under the operational plans, including Essential Service Delivery, Maternal Neonatal Child and Adolescent Health, Maternal Neonatal Reproductive and Adolescent Health Community-Based Healthcare, Family Planning Field Services Delivery and Hospital Service Management. "All, including children, adolescent and women, will be able to avail of the nutrition services in all districts, upazilas union health centres, and community clinics," he said. "Forty per cent women and half the country's children are malnourished," said Prof Dr Fatima Parveen Chowdhury, Director of the Institute of Public Health Nutrition (IPHN). Talking to the news agency on Thursday, she said the NGOs which are independently conducting nutrition activities would be brought under this programme.