Speakers in a function today underscored the need for ensuring nutrition for all citizens of the country to build a better and healthy nation.

“Bangladesh had already achieved food security and the government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been working relentlessly how quality and nutrition food is ensured for all and for this, the collective efforts and joint collaborations of the government organizations and non-government organizations are very essential’, they also said.

They made the call while addressing a virtual Webinar titled “Strengthening Multi stakeholder Platform on Nutrition Governance-Our Learning during Pandemic”.

The webinar workshop was held aimed at reflecting on the ideas and knowledge sharing on how to enhance nutrition governance by strengthening multi-stakeholder platforms throughout the country.

European Union and FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) funded Nutrition projects-SONGO, JANO, LEAN, SUCHANA, BLENGS arranged the virtual webinar while ICCO, Bangladesh coordinated to organize the function.

Kazi Zebunnessa Begum, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of helath and family welfare addressed the function as the chief focal person and Md. ShahiduzzamanFaruki, Director general(DG) ofFood planning Monitoring unit(FPMU), Dr. Md. Khalilur Rahman, DG, Bangladesh National Nutrition Council (BNNC), Prof. Dr. Nasir Uddin Ahmed, Line Director- Institute of Public health and nutrition (IPHN) Dr. S M Mustafizur Rahman, Line Director, National nutrition services (NNS), Koen Everaert, Team Leader – Food & Nutrition Security and Sustainable Development, EU, FerozAhmed, Livelihood Advisor, FCDO addressed the function as panel discussants.

The panel discussants in their speeches put emphasis on multi-sectoral approach alongside making better coordination among government and non-government organizations for ensuring nutrition in the country.

The Panelist also agreed that it is now imperative for all the stakeholders to work closely to enhance and contribute towards the improvement of nutrition governance and decision-making mechanisms in future.

COVID-19 has created a confluence of nutrition risks that endanger an entire cohort of women and children. Nutrition must be integrated into every phase of the pandemic response – the immediate response, the resilience-building, and the recovery, they added.

With nutrition as a key pillar of the response, the panelist and the guests stressed the importance of strengthening the Multi Stakeholder platform on nutrition governance in achieving the targets of national plan of action for nutrition-2(NPAN2) and SDGs, Zero Hunger (2), Good Health and Well-being (3) and Partnerships for the Goals (17), they further added.

The participants also said, the day labors who lead their families from the daily’s income are the worst sufferers and they had become totally jobless due to lockdown imposed by the government to halt the spread of Covid -19.

Apart from it, a number of representatives coming from GO and NGO, private sector, civil society, development partners and researchers including the journalists participated in the virtual webinar.