Healthier mothers for a brighter future

Bangladesh has had incredible success fighting hunger. In 1990, almost two-thirds of children younger than five were underweight, but less than one-third are today. Recently, Bangladesh even received a “special recognition” award from the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation for outstanding progress in fighting hunger and poverty.

National rates of malnutrition, however, are still very high, and stunting is a particular concern. When children are chronically undernourished or have to fight many infections early in life, they can become shorter than normal for their age. Stunting decreases cognitive development, leads to worse health outcomes and school performance, and lowers productivity throughout adult life. It is especially harmful to Bangladesh, because about 6 million children under age five are stunted.