Micronutrient deficiencies among children, women must be removed
01 November 2022
National
Micronutrient Survey 2019-20 revealed that around 20 per cent of
under-five children suffer from iodine deficiency. The first-ever iodine
status has raised questions on the efficacy of the government's
Universal Salt Iodization strategy. An alarming 70 per cent of
non-pregnant and non-lactating women have vitamin D deficiencies in
addition to their deficiencies in other micronutrients in different
percentages.
Carried out by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics in
250 Upazilas from every district, the aim of the survey was to
understand the status of vitamin A, Vitamin D, Zinc, Ferritin, Urinary
Iodine, and Anemia among children and non-pregnant and non-lactating,
women of reproductive age. The findings suggest that children under five
years of age, and non-pregnant and non-lactating women in the country
still significantly lack micronutrients. The results of the survey will
help prepare a strategy for combating food and nutrition insecurity and
identifying appropriate interventions. Among the under-5 children, 31
per cent had zinc deficiency, 20 per cent had iodine deficiency, and 15
percent had iron deficiency. In the case of vitamins, 22 per cent had
vitamin D deficiency, and 7 per cent of children had moderate vitamin A
deficiency.
The findings provide direction for policymakers to
design the next-generation nutrition programmes in the 5th health sector
programme in Bangladesh. Compared to findings from the 2011-12 survey,
the micronutrient deficiency status among this group showed improvement
in three indicators (vitamin A, zinc, iodine). It worsened in three
indicators (serum iron, Folate). The status remained unchanged in case
of vitamin B12. National estimate of micronutrient deficiency would
direct the implementation plan of micronutrient supplementation
programmes for children, non-pregnant and non-lactating women.
Ongoing
poverty, starvation, and feared famine may worsen the nutrition
situation among the citizens. We ask the government to involve social
organisations to inform people of proper nutrition intake involving
lower prices. Micronutrient-enriched rice and wheat must be popularised
among the people.
