In traditional approach, women’s health status refers to maternal health focusing on the target women within reproductive years (15-49) and the reproductive health only. Such a narrow span of target population ignores the women under pre & post reproductive years. General health and nutrition status also influence women’s reproductive system as a whole. Fulfillment of the nutritional requirements of a woman at early age is significantly important to prepare herself for carrying and giving birth to a healthy child in future. Therefore, BEES took empathetic measures for women-folk with respect to nutrition. BEES started nutrition and growth monitoring activities along with Reproductive, Child & general health program back in 1979. Until 1992, BEES activities were confined to growth monitoring, balanced diet, poultry rearing, kitchen gardening and other promotional activities.

Later on, with a view to prevent and overcome malnutrition which manifests prevalence of low birth weight babies, formation of weaker pelvises of teenagers and birth complications of pregnant women, by nourishing their poor health, BEES had undertaken its Nutrition Initiative Program. 

The Nutrition Initiative Program initiated in 5 upazilas of 5 different districts with its own fund along with the financial assistance from WUSC-CIDA under the Expanded Nutrition Initiative Program.

Under this program, diversified activities on health and nutrition such as kitchen gardening, cooking demonstrations for balanced diet, screening of malnourished children, growth monitoring of under 2 years children, BMI measurement of 15-49 years women, supplementary feeding, poultry & livestock rearing etc. are performed. The program has been covering almost 50 thousand community people in the intervention areas through 28 Community Health and Nutrition Workers (CHNWs) and 4 Paramedics.

BEES organized several seminars, workshops and meetings in collaboration with the government departments on various issues related to health, nutrition and family planning during the reporting period for smooth functioning of the program. More than 150 rallies alongwith miking and about 50,000 courtyard meetings were organized on different relevant issues under the promotional activities to aware and motivate the target communities.  

On the other hand about 75% of the pregnant mothers of the target households received at least twice ANC, while roughly 48% of the mothers received at least once PNC within 42 days after their deliveries from BEES operating satellite clinics. Besides, the pregnant mothers at risk were identified by BMI and advised to take essential precautions before and after delivery. During the period under reference, more than 22% pregnant mothers of the total were checked by taking their weight and height to detect BMI under 18.5, who were considered to be mothers at risk.

Similarly growth monitoring were done to assess the weight of the children under 2 years against their ages to detect whether they were malnourished or not and to ascertain the degree of malnutrition. The program staff undertook various measures to reduce moderate and severe malnourished children under 2 years and were able to reduce 22% against the target of 18%. On the other hand, a total of 1,880 cooking demonstrations and 38 homestead gardening were arranged by the program staff during the review session.