Adviser calls for egg in school meals to fight child malnutrition
Staff Correspondent
Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter urged to include eggs in school feeding programs, emphasizing their potential to address child malnutrition and improve overall student health.
She noted that while milk is already provided, many underprivileged children still lack essential nutrients that eggs can supply.
Farida made the remarks at a World Egg Day discussion in Dhaka’s Farmgate, organized by the Department of Livestock Services, Poultry Industries Central Council, and the Bangladesh branch of the World Poultry Science Association.
She highlighted that eggs are an affordable and widely accessible source of nutrition, unlike meat, and stressed the importance of ensuring adequate nutrition by age six.
The adviser also acknowledged the role of rural women, who produce around 80% of the country’s eggs, in supporting local nutrition.
She raised concerns about poultry being threatened by pesticide use and called for greater promotion of Haor duck eggs.
Farida further urged public awareness campaigns on eggs’ health benefits, including cancer prevention, and announced measures to curb price manipulation in the egg market.
The event was chaired by Department of Livestock Services Director General Dr. Md. Abu Sufian, with special guests including Dr. Shakila Faruk and former WAPSA president Moshiur Rahman.
Research papers were presented by Professors Ilias Hossain and Dr. Mahmudul Hasan Sikdar.
