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700 under six children die everyday for malnutrition |
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April 28, 2000
Dhaka, Apr 27 (UNB) – Nutritional status continues to deteriorate in the country, sending 700 under six children to early death everyday. This was revealed at a seminar titled “Malnutrition: Bangladesh Perspective” at Jatiya Press Club this (Thursday) morning. Bangladesh Integrated Nutrition Program (BINP) under Health Ministry and Nutrition Forum Bangladesh jointly organised the seminar, marking National Nutrition Week 2000. In his keynote paper, Dr AMM Anisul Awwal, national consultant of BINP, said in Bangladesh every alternate child is born with malnutrition, which is a threat to the nation. He said in developing countries like ours more than 60 per cent deaths of 5 five children are directly associated with diseases caused by malnutrition. In Bangladesh, some 2.5 lakh children die every year just because of malnutrition or attributable to malnutrition, a significant proportion of which is due to low birth weight, Dr Awwal said. He, however, cited a success story in combating night blindness due to vitamin A deficiency. The prevalence of night blindness has come down to 0.66 percent from 3.78 percent in early 70’s. According to World Health Organization, he said, vitamin deficiency for the under-six children are not now a public health problem. Describing malnutrition as a “silent emergency”, he said all sections of people should come up to combat “dreadful” effects of malnutrition. ”We want to reach a stage by the year 2010 when malnutrition will not be considered as public health problem.” A panel discussion was held after the presentation of the keynote paper. Manjurul Karim, a senior consultant of UNICEF and president of Nutrition Forum Bangladesh, moderated the panel discussion.
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