National Strategy on Prevention and Control of Micronutrient Deficiencies (2015-2024).

The most recent National Micronutrient Survey (NMS), conducted in 2011-12, reported that the vast majority of young children and women in the country are still suffering from various micronutrient deficiencies. Thus, the Institute of Public Health Nutrition (IPHN), under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) and other stakeholders in this field, strongly felt the need to review current strategies and interventions in place. Following extensive consultation with various stakeholders, including relevant ministries, the National Strategy on Prevention and Control of Micronutrient Deficiencies (NSPCMD) was developed. This NSPCMD provides a comprehensive and coordinated intervention plan to prevent and control micronutrient deficiencies in the country. The purpose of the NSPCMD is to provide guidance on interventions and actions for a coordinated and comprehensive approach to prevent and control micronutrient deficiencies among the Bangladeshi population, with an emphasis on vulnerable population groups, including children under five years of age, school-age children, adolescent girls, and pregnant and lactating women.
The strategy is divided into three main sections, as follows: Section 1: Brief overview of the problem of micronutrient deficiencies in global and Bangladesh contexts, providing an overview of current policies and mandates, followed by the overall goal and objectives. Section 2: An insight into the current situation of micronutrient status among different population groups in the country, including trend analysis, possible causes and risk factors. It presents existing interventions for alleviating micronutrient deficiencies in the country, followed by an in-depth analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the current micronutrient deficiency control programmes in the country. Section 3: Highlights the recommended micronutrient deficiency prevention and control strategies to be executed in the next ten years, based on evidence, best practices and lessons learned. It also outlines the implementation plan for the recommended strategies and indicators for monitoring impact and the progress of implementation of the strategy through multiple and diversified modalities.
The overall goal of the NSPCMD is to improve the overall health, nutritional status, survival, growth, development and productivity of the population by preventing and alleviating micronutrient deficiencies. Its Objectives are: provide guidelines on actions for improved access and affordability to micronutrients through increased consumption of fortified foods and supplements and compliance to micronurient guidelines and regulations; provide a common platform for resource mobilization for the implementation of the national micronutrient deficiency prevention and control programmes; promote efficient implementation and programme delivery of micronutrient interventions that can create impact among the marginalised people through improved planning, capacity development, monitoring, coordination and collaboration of partners in the country; improve knowledge, awareness and utilisation of micronutrient deficiency control interventions through advocacy, social mobilisation and behaviour change communication; strengthen research and monitoring and evaluation of National Micronutrient Deficiency Prevention and Control programmes in the country.
Increasing the demand for and use of micronutrient intervention services and improving the utilisation of recommended micronutrient supplements, fortified products and food-based approaches are the key objectives of the overall strategy. Behaviour change to improve the intake of micronutrients is an essential part of whatever intervention method is being used and requires communications, using mass media, social and political facilitation, social marketing and nutrition education. In Bangladesh, despite the significant improvements in the health and nutrition situation, the status of micronutrient deficiencies remains worrisome, particularly among vulnerable and disadvantaged population groups. Natural and human -made disasters compound the problem. Bangladesh needs to accelerate progress on key nutrition targets. A range of short, medium and long term approaches are in place in this national strategy for addressing micronutrient deficiencies.