ZCZC
BSS-26
WFP-SCHOOL-MEAL
Govt expands school meals programme
DHAKA, April 10, 2019 (BSS) – The government has announced that it will
expand a cooked school meal programme to reach 400,000 children of 2,000
schools at 16 upazilas.
The programme was successfully piloted by the World Food Programme (WFP),
said a media release today.
That pilot, started in 2013, gives school children fresh, hot school meals
in Bamna and Islampur upazilas. Locally-sourced fresh vegetables are included
along with lentils and micronutrient-fortified rice and oil.
The pilot has shown that these fresh meals are a cost-effective approach to
combat micronutrient deficiency.
“We thank the government for their initiative to transition from fortified
biscuits to fresh, hot meals. Nutritious meals for school children have a
high return on investment, as they improve children’s health and productivity
throughout their life,” said Richard Ragan, WFP Representative and Country
Director, at a school meals policy consultation in Dhaka today.
The expansion, funded by the Bangladesh government, represents a US$20
million investment in the future health and productivity of these students.
In addition, for the first time, the government will contribute US$3.6
million to support WFP-implemented school feeding in impoverished schools in
the country. This contribution will help WFP reach over 172,000 school
children in 2019.
WFP’s efforts complement the government-led school feeding programme in
poverty prone areas, which reaches over 2.7 million children per year. WFP
provides technical assistance to this programme, with an aim to reach more
children than ever before.
Micronutrient deficiencies present a huge challenge to Bangladesh, with
economic losses to malnutrition estimated at US$1 billion per year.
Healthy, fresh, locally-sourced meals that provide adequate macro and
micronutrients for school children are a major step towards ensuring a
prosperous future for all Bangladeshis.
BSS/PR/TAN/RY/1750 hrs