The dissemination workshop titled Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment of Climate Change Impact on Nutrition in Bangladesh was held at CORDAP in Dhaka on Thursday.
Chief adviser’s special assistant Professor Dr Md Sayedur Rahman spoke as chief guest at the event, said a press release.
Sheikh Momena Moni, additional secretary, and ATM Saiful Islam, additional secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, spoke as special guests at the event.
Professor Dr Anjuman Ara Sultana, line director, National Nutrition Services, Directorate General of Health Services, inaugurated the workshop as chairperson.
Dr Anthony Eshofonie, team leader, health security and emergencies, representative, World Health Organisation, made the overview of the assessment while Dr Zeenat Sultana, deputy CEO of the Bangladesh Centre for Communication Programmes, made an overview of BCCP.
Umme Salma Mukta, senior research manager, BCCP, presented short profile on the assignment while Professor Dr Anjuman Ara Sultana, Line Director, National Nutrition made closing remark at the event.
The workshop recommended that climate change posed significant threats to multiple sectors in Bangladesh, with nutrition being a particularly critical yet under-addressed area.
The impact of climate change on nutrition is increasingly evident as unpredictable weather events such as cyclones, salinity intrusion, floods and droughts disrupt food production, availability, access, quality and utilisation, thereby compromising the nutritional status of millions, especially children, women and marginalised communities.
Besides, cyclones, water salinisation and flooding contaminate drinking water sources, heightening risks of under-nutrition, micronutrient deficiencies and water-borne diseases.
The assessment identified 11 climate stress areas, which suffer a total of 14 hazards.