Govt should supply supplementary food amid crises like Covid-19: Survey

A recent online survey has found that 51.1 percent of respondents want the government to arrange supply of supplementary food to meet the demand during crises like the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Among the 11,232 respondents, 46.4 percent said that they have good knowledge of coronavirus, but surprisingly, 64.6 percent claimed that they have very poor knowledge of preventing coronavirus.

When asked if they have any idea of a balanced diet, 66.3 percent answered in the affirmative. 

The cross-sectional survey was conducted on the knowledge of nutrition and a balanced diet in the public health emergency situation during the Covid-19 outbreak. It was carried out using an online platform by Dr Wazed Research and Training Institute of Begum Rokeya University, and School of HealthSciences, University of Western Sydney, Australia, according to a press release.

The survey report was shared at an event at the liaison office of Begum Rokeya University on Monday noon. The event was jointly organised by Dr Wazed Research and Training Institute, and Western Sydney University.

The survey was conducted during the lockdown in different parts of Bangladesh between April and May. Its main objective was to explore knowledge levels of nutrition and balanced diet among people of Bangladesh during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The World Health Organisation has provided guidelines on nutrition during the Covid-19 lockdown/quarantine, but the survey found that 83.3 percent of respondents were not aware of that.

Among the respondents, 89.4 percent and 81.1 percent admitted that eating a well-balanced diet and taking supplementary food respectively will develop healthier and stronger immune systems and lower the risk of chronic illnesses and infectious diseases like Covid-19.

Among the 11,232 respondents, males were 51 percent, whereas females and others were 47.7 percent and 1.3 percent respectively.

In addition, 35.4 percent of the respondents were between 18 and 26 years of age and 66.7 percent were employed in different professional jobs. Overall, 79.2 percent were living with their families.

From the survey, it should be noted that the knowledge level among people varied in terms of a balanced diet, nutrition, supplementary food. But more concern is required from the government and individual level to teach people about the immune system in terms of developing herd immunity among the people of Bangladesh to fight crises like the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, said a press release.

The chief investigator of the survey was the vice-chancellor of Begum Rokeya University, Professor Dr Major Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah, and the associate investigators were Tanvir Abir, associate professor of the International University of Business Agriculture and Technology, and Dr Kingsley Agho, senior lecturer of School of Health Sciences, University of Western Sydney.