National Nutrition Week begins

Nutrition pyramid. Photo: Collected
Nutrition pyramid. Photo: Collected

The government is set to observe the National Nutrition Week, first of its kind, from Monday with the theme "Think about nutrition, if you think about food".

"We are going to observe the programme for the first time with a view to creating massive public awareness," health services division secretary Md Serajul Huq Khan told a press conference at the ministry conference room in Dhaka on Monday, reports BSS.

He said the present government is working relentlessly to meet the challenge of malnutrition.

It is necessary to ensure nutrition to all including women and children to make every citizen of the densely populated country, he added.

Khan expressed his optimism that country will achieve the milestone within shortest possible time under the dynamic leadership of the present government.

The weeklong programme will include fair, procession on the first day tomorrow apart from inaugural function, different programmes to create awareness among people on the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth days and essay and debate competitions and prize giving ceremony will be held on the closing day on 29 April.

Agriculture minister Matia Chowdhury will join the inaugural function at the Osmani Memorial auditorium at 2:00pm today.

President Abdul Hamid and prime minister Sheikh Hasina gave separate messages on the occasion of National Nutrition Week.

In his message, the president said father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had established national nutrition institute in 1974 and national nutrition council on April 23 in 1975 to build a healthy and prosperous nation.

"The present government has translated Bangabandhu's widespread thought into reality," he said, adding that Bangladesh has now been a role model in field of development of health and nutrition.

Abdul Hamid said under the leadership of prime minister Sheikh Hasina, the reformed national nutrition council's tireless efforts have added a different dimension to the ongoing activities to develop nutrition.

In her message, prime minister Sheikh Hasina said Bangabandhu had recognised people's right to food as fundamental human right in the constitution.

Highlighting different development initiatives taken by her government following the footsteps of the country's founding father, she said the present government has been implementing different initiatives to reach healthcares and knowledge of nutrition to the doorsteps of people to build a healthy and meritorious new generation.

"We have formulated National Nutrition Policy-2015 and revived the national nutrition council," she said, adding that under the leadership of the council, second National Plan of Action for Nutrition has been formulated to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

Sheikh Hasina said the country has attained the eligibility of graduating to a developing nation.

"We firmly believe that Bangladesh will turn into a developed and prosperous country by 2041," the premier said, adding that ensuing nutrition to general people is must in this regard.

The president and the prime minister wished success of all programme marking the week.