Proper nutrition of children: School milk feeding can be a unique initiative

Mohammad Nahid Hasan Khan :

Primary education is the foundation of Institutional education. In order to strengthen the foundation of this education, there is no alternative to give more importance to the physical and mental development of children. Bangladesh has already been enlisted as the country of developing world. Right now Bangladesh is the country of 35th largest economy in the world. This country is moving forward with the determination to become the desired developed country by 2041. The children of the present generation will lead in building a prosperous Bangladesh of the future.
Therefore, proper nutritional services must be ensured now to ensure mental development as well as physical growth of children. At the local level, mid-day meals have been introduced by private or non-governmental initiatives in primary schools, but the actual and quality nutritional services remain neglected. There is no substitute for precise planning in determining a balanced food supply.
A large section of the marginalized population, including parents are still extremely apathetic. If children do not get the right amount of balanced food according to their age, physical and mental limitations of children become visible as they grow older.
In many developed countries of the world, including Japan, the United States, dietitians are appointed for primary schools who advise, monitor and follow up on nutrition and proper food intake according to the needs of students. Bangladesh has successfully implemented various mega projects including Padma Bridge, Elevated Expressway, Ruppur Nuclear Power Plant Project, Bangabandhu Tunnel, Hi-Tech Park, overcoming financial constraints in recent times. Now is the time to develop the new generation as talented, nutritiously sound, healthy, active and efficient citizens.
Recently, under the LDDP project of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, from June 2023 among 300 primary schools in 61 districts of Bangladesh, the program of feeding 200 milliliters of milk per day to the students of class 1 to 5 has been started, which will continue until next June 2025. In this case, the students’ weight, physical growth and mental intelligence will be compared before and after school milk feeding. Milk is an ideal food. It contains all six elements required by the body.
Lactose, essential for the body, is readily available from milk. In such a scheme, adding bananas and eggs to milk will provide almost ideal nutrients. It is expected that the government will take up this great program which is timely and very necessary in this regard. Observation of activities of Chakdigar Government Primary School in Khan Morich Union of BhanguraUpazila of Pabna District under the School Milk Feeding Program showed that the students are participating more attentively and enthusiastically in the class as well as spontaneously participating in various co-curricular activities.
The attendance rate of students has increased because of ensuring free milk every day for the students. And the school Vibrancy and discipline have returned.
Finally, the simple fact is understandable that to ensure age-based nutritional services according to the needs of a talented and self-reliant nation, the government as well as all concerned should continue to make collective efforts.

(The writer is Upazila Nirbahi Officer, Bhangura, Pabna).