During a World Population Day event on July 11, the Government of Bangladesh (GOB) recognized SPRING/Bangladesh’s exceptional efforts in Banaripara upazila of Barisal district. The GOB celebrated World Population Day by organizing multiple events across the country to raise awareness about the 2015 theme, “Vulnerable Populations in Emergencies.”
During the event in Banaripara, the GOB singled out SPRING/Bangladesh’s Upazila Coordinator Mr. Md. Mahfuzul Islam as the best performer, especially for his contributions to maternal and child healthcare in 2014-15. SPRING/Bangladesh established 32 Farmer Nutrition Schools, serving 600 beneficiaries, in Banaripara between 2014 and 2015. Since 2012, 161 SPRING-led Farmer Nutrition Schools have been founded here, supporting more than 2,500 beneficiaries.
In addition to Mr. Islam’s award, the Directorate General of Family Planning under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) honored SPRING/Bangladesh with an award for the best non-government partner for its work to improve the health and nutrition of pregnant and lactating women and mainstream nutrition into health services. The GOB believes that such activities are an inspiration for organizations working to better Bangladesh.
SPRING/Bangladesh has been working closely with the GOB since the project’s inception in 2012. We have trained MOHFW staff members on the essential nutrition actions and the essential hygiene actions to enhance capacity building and ensure that quality nutrition messages are being delivered through multiple government channels.