Bangladesh Government has developed National Nutrition Policy 2015, to ensure nutrition to the citizen, which is supported by the constitution, in article 6.2. The policy emphasizes on the need for multi-sectoral approach to achieve national nutrition goals. By adopting the objectives of National Nutrition Policy 2015 Bangladesh National Nutrition Council – BNNC coordinated and developed a Second National Plan of Action for Nutrition – NPAN2 (2016-2025). This is an integrated plan which will be implemented in three phases. BNNC which is chaired by the Honorable Prime Minister, helps plan national nutrition programs for relevant seventeen ministries. It is planned that five more ministries will join the council.
As a follow-up initiative, a national workshop was organized by BNNC on December 12, 2018, at Bidyut Bhaban which was attended by focal persons and alternative focal persons from respective 22 ministries, UN organizations and NGOs. The aim of this initiative was to initiate coordination among the 22 ministries to ensure their annual development plan (ADP) comply with the NPAN 2.
Mr. Md. Ashadul Islam, Secretary – Health Services Division, MoHFW was present as chief guest and Dr. Md. Shah Nawaz, DG-BNNC chaired the workshop. Mr. Md Ruhul Amin Talukdar, Joint Secretary (PH 2) was also present at the workshop as special guest. The event jointly supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and CARE Bangladesh. The event was jointly supported by World Health Organization (WHO) and CARE Bangladesh. Two representatives from CARE Bangladesh actively participated in the event. Around 150 representatives from various ministries and development organization attended the event.
The workshop was conducted in two sessions. In first session, NPAN 2 was introduced and its key objectives was discussed. A group work session was planned for second half where each participating organization developed a draft plan for next ADP.
The high profile event created an opportunity for CARE Bangladesh to learn more about respective ministries’ plan on NPAN-2 and facilitate good relations with the ministry representatives. CARE Bangladesh believes that through this event the organization will able to bring effective support from relevant ministries which will be highly helpful when CARE implement its three multi-sectoral nutrition projects in 9 districts and 40 sub districts.
