Second National Plan of Action for Nutrition (NPAN2) 2016-2025.

This Second National Plan of Action for Nutrition (NPAN2) 2016-2025 is a multi-sectoral policy document. The goal of the National Nutrition Policy 2015 (NNP-2015) was to improve the nutritional status of all people, with special attention to the first 1000 days, disadvantaged groups, including mothers, adolescent girls and children; to prevent and control malnutrition; and to accelerate national development through raising the standard of living. Following the NNP 2015, NPAN2 has taken a lifecycle approach in ensuring adequate nutrition for every Bangladeshi citizen. Specifically, the plan targets the following groups: 1. The first 1000 days, from conception up to 23 months of a child; 2. Adolescent girls; 3. Pregnant and lactating women; 4. Elderly population; 5. Physical, mental & cognitive disabled. The objectives of the NPAN2 specifically aim to: l. improve the nutritional status of all citizens, including children, adolescent girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers; 2. ensure availability of adequate, diversified and quality safe food and promote healthy feeding practices; 3. strengthen nutrition-specific, or direct nutrition, interventions; 4. strengthen nutrition-sensitive, or indirect nutrition, interventions; and 5. strengthen multi-sectoral programs and increase coordination among sectors to ensure improved nutrition.
The NPAN2 sets the targets and indicators by 2025 for reducing various forms of malnutrition, which include: 1. Increase the initiation of breastfeeding in the first hour of life to 80%; 2. Increase the rate of exclusive breastfeeding to 70%in infants younger than 6 months of age; 3. Increase the rate of continued breastfeeding in children aged 20 to 23 months to>95%; 4. Increase the proportion of children aged 6-23 months receiving a minimum acceptable diet to more than 40%; 5. Reduce the rate of low birth weight to 16%; 6. Reduce stunting to 25% among under-5 children; 7. Reduce wasting to less than 8% among under-5 children; 8. Reduce the proportion of underweight among under-5 children to 15%; 9. Reduce the rate of severe acute malnutrition (SAM)(WHZ -3)among children under 5 to less than 1%; 10. Reduce malnutrition (Total Thinness, BMI<18.5) among adolescent girls (15-19yrs) less than 15 %; 11. Increase Vitamin A capsule supplementation coverage in children aged 6- 59 month by 99%; 12. Increase the rate (15PPM) of iodized salt intake to 90%; 13. Control & reduce maternal overweight (BMI>23) to 30%; 14. Reduce the rate of anemia among pregnant women to less than 25%; 15. No increase of childhood obesity (WHZ >+2) among children under 5 years. Based on the objectives and targets, the NPAN2 specifies the prioritized key action areas and major activities that fall into different thematic areas under the major classification of nutrition specific and nutrition sensitive actions. The thematic areas include: 1. Nutrition for all following lifecycle approach; 2. Agriculture and diet diversification and locally adapted recipes; 3. Social Protection; 4. Implementation of Integrated and Comprehensive Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) Strategy; 5. Monitoring, Evaluation and Research to inform policy and program formulation as well as implementation; 6. Capacity building. The primary role of food, agriculture, livestock and fisheries sectors is to increase the availability, affordability, accessibility and consumption of diverse, safe, culturally appropriate halal foods and diets using environment-friendly technologies. Many area-based, climate smart and innovative technologies will continue to be promoted including hydroponic gardening, floating gardens as well as area-appropriate varieties of crops and will complement more established activities to scale-up priority interventions to increase nutrition outcomes in this sector. Plant disease management which promotes Integrated Pest Management (IPM) will also be promoted. Dietary nutrient targets using food-based dietary guidelines to encourage diversified food planning and diets, will be promoted. The overall goal is to increase the production of 21 nutrient-dense crops, horticulture and animal source foods (ASF) for home consumption and for surplus sale at local markets. Techniques which are relevant to improve nutrition outcomes - from post-harvest losses to transport and storage - will be promoted with special attention given to use of sugars, fat, salt/sodium including possibilities for post harvest fortification. Assurance of safe and quality food is an important determinant for nutrition security for all age groups. In addition to strengthening GAPs (including aquaculture and veterinary), GHPs and GMPs along the food chain/value chain, risk-based food inspection, riskbased food standards formulation, monitoring of food contaminants and adulterants, and conduction of food borne disease surveillance supported by laboratory analysis; campaign for good hygienic practices, support for the food businesses operators are needed to be ensured.
Other cross cutting areas which are identified in all strategies are: (a) Comprehensive and integrated social behavior change communication agenda in support of NPAN2;(b) Research to generate evidences to inform policy and programming particularly on best practices; and(c) Capacity building, a cross cutting and essential part of NPAN2, which targets all relevant sectors at different administrative levels. Responsible ministries and collaborating partners have also been identified along with SMART indicators for tracking progress and achievements, timeframes and costs involved for implementing the agreed prioritized interventions.