INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITION

Institute of Public Health Nutrition is implementing quite a good number of important work intended for the improvement of the nutritional status of the people particularly for the under 5 children and mothers. Its charter of duties are technical advisor of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in respect of nutrition related issues; and representing MOH&FW in different international and national technical bodies dealing nutrition.

Activities:

A. Vitamin A Plus Campaign :

1. Children under 1 year - High potency vitamin A capsule (1 lack I.U) Supplementation during measles vaccination at EPI site.
2. Children 1 to 5 years-High potency vitamin A capsule (2 lack I.U) supplementation through national events 2 times (4-6 month Intervals) a year.
3. Children 2 to 5 years- Supplementation of Albendazole through national events 2 times (4-6 month Intervals) a year.
4. Mother - High potency vitamin A capsule (2 lakh i.u.) supplementation during postpartum period. (With in 6 wks of delivery).

Achievements:

1. Rate of Night blindness reduced from 3.76 %( 1983 ) to .04 % (2005)
2. Coverage rate Vitamin A Capsule (1 to 5years). – 99.7 % (10 May 2008)
3. Albendazole - 99.3 % (10 May 2008)
4. Postpartum coverage –36 % (2008)
5. Seminar with prominent gynecologist of the country was arranged, they committed to suggest vitamin A in Antenatal checkup and according to their decisions a guideline sent to different hospital to increase coverage.
6. >1 year coverage – 73 % (2006)

B. Reduction in the incidence of iodine deficiency diseases (IDD)

1. Iodized salt monitoring
2. Awareness creation activities
3. Training of field workers of health and family planning on control of iodine deficiency disorder (CIDD)
4. Training for testing Iodized salt
5. Surveillance of salt for iodization

Goiter prevalence rate

Biochemical Iodine Deficiency

Achievements:

1. Survey USI & IDD completed (IPHN, BISIC, INFS – 2004/05)
2. Iodized Salt user – 84% (UNICEF, 2006)
3. Orientation program is going on.
4. H.I. & S.I. of 57 districts are oriented about Universal salt iodinisation law.
5. Universal salt iodinisation law is currently updated and draft copy sent for ministry approval.

C. Reduction of incidence of Anemia:

• Awareness creation activities to control anemia
• Parasitic disease control
• Strategy implementation address the major causes of the malnutrition and anemia including iron-foliate supplementation, longtime food fortification & implementation.

Prevalence of Anemia in Bangladesh.

1. Pre School aged children - 49%
2. Pregnant Women - 46%
3. Non pregnant Women - 33%
4. Adolescent in country -23-29%
5. Adolescent in the CHT - 43%

Achievements:

Strategy developed and disseminated. IPHN is working for preparation of action plan.

D. Reduction of Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM) by training program

• Awareness program for PEM control.
• Growth monitoring of 1-3 years old children
• Communication on weaning

Achievements:

A national guideline for severe PEM is finalized and now in press .

E. Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF)

• Strategy implementation.
• Promotion and protection of Breast feeding through proper implementation of BMS code and proper child weaning Practice

Infant and Young child feeding (IYCF) practice in Bangladesh

1. Exclusively Breast Fed aged less than 6 months- 42%
2. Colostrums Feeding- 87%
3. Bottle fed infants infants under 6 months- 22%

Achievements:

1. IYCF strategy developed and disseminated. IPHN is working in it for preparation of action plan.
2. Protection of Breast-feeding through implementation of “The Breast – Milk Substitutes (Regulation of Marketing) Ordinance, 1984”. IPHN is working for updating the law.
3. About 1000 nurses and policy makers were trained about law.
4. National Advisory Committee meeting for BMS code chaired by additional secretary.
5. Promotion of Breast feeding through awareness creation activities is going on
6. Quite a good number of medical colleges hospitals, district hospital and upajila health complexes made baby friendly hospitals and practicing exclusive breast feeding practices for the first 6 months of life.
7. Awareness creation activities about complementary is going on
8. Legal action on BMS Code taken against 4 companies
9. Licensing & renewal of breast milk substitute is updated up to now .

F. To strengthen laboratory activities:

• To develop the effective laboratory facilities of food and biochemical aspects of nutrition.
• Serological tests for Nutrition related diseases

Achievements:

1. CNU is now running in its full strength, All lab. tests of children and mothers are routinely done in IPHN lab.
2. Iodine content of salt routinely tested.

G. To strengthen Institutional capacity:

• Human resources development (HRD)
• Logistics and equipments

H. Multi sectoral Co-ordination:

• Different ministries
• Development partners

I. Guideline for the “Management of Severe Malnutrition of Children in Bangladesh”

already developed and now on finalization stage

J.Nutritional survey.

• To evaluate nutrition related situation at present in selected districts
• To assess rapidly the impact of price hike on household food security, food quality and nutritional status among poor women and children in Bangladesh
• Recently a survey prepared from 164 family in Bangalypoor union, Sayidpur Upazila, Nilphamary district

K. Strengthening Nutrition & Food Safety Education WHO supported Program

1. Training for nutrition Sector.
2. Training for nutrition vulnerable population.
3. Development of Radio & Television spot on Nutrition awareness creation.
4. Research on nutrition.

Achievements:

1. IPHN has conducted quiet a good number of training awareness program in division, Districts and Upazila involving all the sectors working in nutrition related works
2. All ready contacted with Ad. Agency for Nutritional advertisement

L. Laboratory related activities:

IPHN has one food science laboratory and one pathological laboratory where all Nutrition related and general pathological investigations could be done.

Achievements:

1. Action taken for upgrading

M. Strengthening of Child Nutrition Unit:

• Identification of malnourished children under 1-3 years of age through growth monitoring
• Orientation and education program for mother

The Institute of Public Health Nutrition is running 20 Child Nutrition Unit, located one in central and others are in 19 Upazila health complexes under the administrative control of the institute, the program has provided one nutritionist in each center. The over all aim is to improve the nutritional status of the under five children and mother of the country. The activities of the CNUs are-

1. Growth monitoring
2. Supplementation s
3. Complementary feeding
4. Nutrition corner for mothers education on nutrition
5. Nutrition corner for mothers education on nutrition
6. Treatment of malnutrition and associated problem
7. Referral center
8. Demonstration of home gardening

IPHN has taken steps to revitalize & provide more functional support to CNUs other than Mohakhali where all activities are going on at present. In last 6 months 500 malnourished / undernourished mother and children are managed. Among the treated children 229 children are average malnourished out of them 4(1.8 %) are severely malnourished.