Canada, Bangladesh co-host launch of ‘Year of Action’ on nutrition

Bangladesh and Canada have launched a "Year of Action" on nutrition, which will include a series of commitment-making moments.

Bangladesh's Minister of Health and Family Welfare Zahid Maleque joined Canada's Minister of International Development Karina Gould today to launch the event, according to a press release of High Commission of Canada.

The Year of Action will culminate with the Nutrition for Growth Summit (N4G), to be hosted by the Government of Japan in December 2021.

As a result of the launch event, CA$520 million has been pledged towards Nutrition for Growth.

With the onset of the pandemic, the number of people suffering from acute hunger is expected to double to 265 million by the end of 2020. Experts estimate that globally, COVID-19 is likely to increase the number of malnourished children by 6.7 million, while the number of people in extreme poverty could increase by 49 million.

Today's announcement will help address the massive nutritional needs of the poorest and most marginalised populations by decreasing starvation and stunting, preventing additional cases of maternal anemia, and averting child deaths.

During the event, Minister Maleque said Bangladesh will continue to invest in services that take a full life cycle approach to malnutrition—particularly for pregnant women, mothers and children.

"We will continue to strengthen nutritional education and counseling services, Vitamin A supplementation and de-worming programs, as well as large-scale food fortification. Our programs will emphasize women's empowerment, enabling them to take decisions regarding their own and their children's nutrition and wellbeing. And finally, we aim to implement 6-month paid maternity leave across all sectors to ensure that all new mothers have the time, space, and support to breastfeed exclusively for a full six months."