Bangladesh Applied Nutrition and Human Resource
Development Board (BAN-HRDB)

Introduction

It is enshrined in Article 18 (1) of Bangladesh Constitution that the State shall regard the raising the level of nutrition and improvement of public health as among its primary duties. Based on the Article, the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh established the Board as per decision of the Cabinet through regulation published in Bangladesh Gazette in January 2002. The Board aims at developing human resources of various government and non-governmental organizations in food based nutrition through short training courses, advocacy meetings, symposia, workshops and mass media.

The Board came into being in 1968 as an Applied Nutrition Project ( ANP) which continued until 1979 with development of methodologies for solving nutrition problems on self-help basis. Based on its success, the project was renamed in 1979 as Bangladesh Institute of Research and Training on Applied Nutrition (BIRTAN) based in Dhaka under the Ministry of Agriculture. Its activities subsequently were expanded to other parts of the country through establishing four Regional Centers.

2. Major Functions of the Board

2.1 Human Resource Development on Food based Nutrition through Trainers Training

Human resources are developed through a three day and a one week trainer's training on food based nutrition. District and Upazila officers of various organizations particularly the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) attend the one week program organized at Dhaka. Besides this, three day trainers training is also conducted for the field workers of government and non-governmental organizations organized at the district and Upazila headquarters. Usually, Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officer of the DAE, School teachers, Field 0fficers of NGOs, Elected Representatives of the Union Council, Imams and Farmers attend this program. In both training programs practical aspects are covered. Thus, there is a balance of theoretical and practical learning experiences that enable the participants to apply the knowledge in their domain. The course could be considered as unique because of its multi-disciplinary, integrated and holistic approach that deals with food, nutrition, health and management.

2.1.1. Objectives of the Trainer's Training

At the end of three days training, the participants are expected to know :

• the food and nutrient classification, sources of nutrients and their functions and daily requirements.
• the technologies of producing horticultural crops in their homestead and other available spaces.
• how to rear poultry and livestock as a source of quality nutrients and poverty reduction through employment.
• diversified use of new crops such as maize and soybean.
• low cost technologies of home scale processing and preservation of fruits and vegetables.
• preparation of low-cost balanced diet.
• nutritive value of different crops
• micronutrient deficiencies and their prevention through food.
• diversified use of fruits and vegetables to minimize micronutrient problems.
• the role of forest and herbal plants to protect environment and health.
• primary health care.
• socio-economic impacts of dowry.
  
  At the end of one week trainer's training program, the officers, in addition to the topics mentioned above, are expected to know :
• project cycle management.
• nutrition program planning and management.
• the role of marketing in nutrition improvement.
• how to assess nutritional status.
• nutrition scenario and role of nutrition in development.
• arsenic problem and how it affects food chain.
• health hazard due to use of color and chemicals mixed with food.
• post harvest management and its impact on nutrition.
• food hygiene and food sanitation.
• functional foods in nutrition and health.
• management ( planning, organizing, staffing, coordinating, directing and controlling.)
  

2.1.2. Course Facilitators

Senior officers of the Board usually handle the course on nutrition. Besides, senior level professionals and experts are drawn from different academic institutions and organizations such as University of Dhaka, Institute of Nutrition and Food Science (INFS), Bangladesh National Nutrition Council (BNNC), Institute of Public Health Nutrition (IPHN), National Nutrition Program (NNP), IMED of the Planning & Finance Ministry, Bangladesh Institute of Management (BIM), Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Department of Livestock Resources, Department of Fishery, Department of Social Welfare. World Food Program (WFP), Micronutrient Initiative (MI) and BRAC.
Every year more than two thousand participants are trained. The training programs are implemented as per Training Policy of the Ministry of Agriculture.

2.2. Nutrition Awareness buildup through participation in the Agricultural Fairs

Every year Agriculture Fairs are organized by the DAE at the district level. The Board participates in these fairs and create nutrition awareness among the visitors on nutritive value of crops, preparation of low cost balanced diet, weaning food, home scale processing and preservation of fruits, importance of intra family food distribution etc.

2.3. Creation of Nutrition Awareness through Mass Media

Nutrition messages particularly nutritive value and diversified use of different fruits and vegetable are communicated to the general mass through Radio program on regular basis. This program is done in collaboration with the Agriculture Information Service (AIS).

2.4. Implementation of Food and Nutrition related Projects under different Policies as per approval of the government

Projects are implemented to achieve the goals of the policies of the government. After establishing the Regional Network on Food and Nutrition Planning (FNP) with the University of the Philippines at Los Banos, a Technical Assistance Project has been implemented. One of the components of the project was a three-month Short Term Course (STC) on Food and Nutrition Program (FNP) Planning and Management. Two such STC were attended by 39 mid-level officers working with the government and non-governmental organizations, in China, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, India, Nepal and Bangladesh . Several batches of in-country trainer's training program on Food and Nutrition Program Planning and Management (FNPPM) also been conducted involving mid-level officers of the government and non-governmental organizations. The 1st phase was completed in 2003 and initiative has been undertaken for the 2nd phase from 2006.

Besides, the Board is working very closely with the Bangladesh National Nutrition Council as member of its Standing Technical Committee (STC) and also its National Council . Meanwhile in the Council, Food Based Dietary Guidelines (FBDG) has been prepared and initiative has been undertaken to update the Bangladesh Food and Nutrition Policy.

2.5. Nutrition Mapping
One of the effective methods to identify area specific nutrition problems in the country is nutrition mapping which is one important mandate of the BAN-HRDB. In order to establish Nutrition Mapping, several national workshops were organized by BAN-HRDB involving thirteen Ministries / organizations already identified in the National Plan of Action for Nutrition ( NPAN). The Board also assisted in the Asia Pacific Network on Food and Nutrition (ANFN) of FAO-RAP in formulating an umbrella project on Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Information and Mapping Systems (FIVIMS). Under this umbrella project, a project on FIVIMS was implemented in Bangladesh.
To identify food intake pattern and nutrition problems in 30 Agro-Ecological Zones (AEZ), a new project proposal is under consideration of the government. Through this project, food intake pattern and nutrition problems would be identified in these zones which could help the government at policy level and sub-national level to attain the objectives of the NPAN, PRSP and MDGs.

Copyright © Bangladesh Applied Nutrition and Human Resource Development Board, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh
Technical Assistance Provided by: Ministry of Agriculture