Story 2024 – Ensuring children’s growth and development

At Nabipur Community Clinic in Bhola, Bangladesh, Community Health Care Provider Baby Akter measures 4-year-old Nusrat’s height as part of FHI 360’s Alive & Thrive initiative’s community-based engagement project.

Baby, who also provides immunizations, uses children’s weight, height and mid-upper arm circumference to determine their nutritional status. She then counsels caregivers and refers malnourished children to the nearest hospital for treatment.

She determines the nutritional status of five to 10 children on a typical day and about 45 children during a monthly immunization day.

Since 2010, the initiative — which works in more than 15 countries — has supported the government of Bangladesh in accelerating the delivery of high-quality maternal, infant and young child nutrition services through technical assistance, policy advocacy and implementation research.