Enhancing Nutritional Security in Bangladesh: Innovations and Challenges
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Abstract
Nutritional security, the condition in which all individuals have access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food, is fundamental to a nation's health and development [1]. In Bangladesh, a country marked by rapid population growth, urbanization, and socio-economic disparities, achieving nutritional security remains a formidable challenge. Despite significant progress in food production and poverty reduction over the past few decades, malnutrition persists, affecting millions of people, particularly women and children. This editorial delves into the innovations driving improvements in nutritional security in Bangladesh, examines the persistent challenges, and highlights the need for a coordinated and comprehensive approach to address these issues effectively. Bangladesh has made notable progress in food security, yet the country still faces significant challenges in achieving nutritional security. The Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2023 ranks Bangladesh as having a "serious" level of hunger, with high rates of child stunting (28%), child wasting (9%), and child mortality (3%) [2]. Although the prevalence of undernourishment has decreased from 17.6% in 2000 to 10.7% in 2023, the persistence of micronutrient deficiencies, also known as "hidden hunger," remains a critical issue [3].
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