Dhaka, Sept 3 (UNB) - Integrated guidelines for nutrition intervention will be finalized within 2-3 months to bring all ongoing nutritional activities in the country on a single track.

The Institute of Public Health Nutrition (IPHN), under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, has undertaken the initiative to prepare the guidelines considering the nutritional requirements of the
people.

Talking to UNB today (Friday), IPHN Director Prof Dr Fatima Parveen Chowdhury said many components including infant foods, anemia and severe malnutrition management are to be incorporated in the integrated guidelines.

“I hope, those who will work with nutrition, infant foods and in the related sectors will follow the same guidelines,” she said.

Prof. Fatima Parveen mentioned that strategies, plan of actions and communication plans of some components have already been finalized for the guidelines and the doctors given instructions gradually on treatment modules.

“It’ll take 2-3 months to fully finalize the integrated guidelines,” she said, adding that many specialist pediatricians have been working day and night to prepare the guidelines.

The IPHN director mentioned that apart from the government, many non-government organisations (NGOs) and international agencies are currently working with nutrition activities, which should be brought on a single track. She said the guidelines would also include various contents including the government's effort to reduce anemia and address the obesity problem among the people as well as on infant foods.

When her attention was drawn to treatment of malnutrition by 'micro-nutrient powder' and RUFT (Ready to Use Therapeutic Food) brought into the country by many international organisations, she admitted the presence of the two items in the market.

Describing rickets as an emerging health problem in the country, Prof. Fatima Parveen said rickets is prevalent across the country but its prevalence is high in Gazipur District.

She said children are afflicted with rickets for lack of sufficient intakes of calcium and Vitamin D in the body. Pregnant mothers should be given enough calcium-rich foods and sunshine to protect the babies from rickets, she suggested.

The IPHN director underscored providing nutrition-education to the people with a view to protecting them from malnutrition and other diseases like diabetes and hypertension caused by over-nutrition.

“Just a nutrition education can solve half of the malnutrition problem,” she said, adding that half of the country's children and women become victims of malnutrition for lack of adequate knowledge
about nutrition.