Eating vegetables, small fish reduces malnutrition in rural women, children
By Md Mamun Islam
RANGPUR, Nov 8, 2025 (BSS) - Malnutrition rates are decreasing among malnourished children, pregnant and lactating women in rural areas due to increased consumption of locally grown vegetables, indigenous fruits and micronutrient-rich small fish.
According to health experts, malnutrition among pregnant women, lactating mothers, adolescents and children from poor families in rural areas still remains a leading cause of permanent blindness, maternal, neonatal, and child mortality.
Regular consumption of locally produced varieties of vegetables, fruits, micronutrient-rich small fish like "Mola", "Darkina" and "Dhela" fulfills the nutritional needs of children, pregnant and lactating women and easily overcomes these serious problems.
Former Rangpur Divisional Director (Health) Dr Md Shahadat Hossain said that malnutrition in pregnant women and lactating mothers usually disrupts normal development of brain, various organs and talents of children, leading to serious diseases.
"Therefore, nutritional deficiencies in pregnant women, lactating mothers and children should be addressed by ensuring regular intake of a variety of locally available vegetables, fruits and micronutrient-rich small fish," he said.
However, he expressed satisfaction that the increasing consumption of vegetables, local varieties of indigenous fruits, and micronutrient-rich small fish by rural people, including women and children, in rural areas of Rangpur region is reducing their malnutrition.
Dr Mofizul Islam Maantu, a popular physician in Rangpur, said that malnutrition among pregnant women and lactating mothers, infants and children among the poor population in rural areas is still a problem in building a healthy nation.
"However, in recent years, the nutritional situation has been improving due to increased consumption of vegetables, fruits, and local varieties of small meat by rural people in the northern part of the country," he said.
Gynecology Specialist at Rangpur Medical College and Hospital (RMCH) Dr Yeasmina said meeting nutritional demand of pregnant women, lactating mothers and children is a prerequisite for a healthier and brilliant future nation.
"Eating vegetables, fruits and small fish meets the nutritional needs of pregnant women, ensures a safe pregnancy, gives birth to a healthy baby, and increases milk production in lactating mothers," she added.
Noted child disease specialist and just-retired Principal of Rangpur Medical College Professor Dr Md Shariful Islam said that regular consumption of micronutrient-rich fish, fruits, and vegetables strengthens the immune system of infants and children and helps in their normal growth.
"Small fish like Mola, Darkina, Dhela, vegetables and indigenous fruits contain important minerals and vitamins like iron and folic acid which help in healthy brain growth, immunity and development of children's talents," he said.
Ordinary people do not usually include small fish in their diet, although deficiencies in micronutrients, minerals, and vitamins can seriously disrupt the normal growth of their children.
"Consumption of micronutrient-rich small fish, vegetables, and fruits not only meets nutritional needs, but significantly reduces maternal, neonatal, and child mortality rates, eliminates permanent blindness and improves health indicators," Dr Shariful said.
District Fisheries Officer of Rangpur Mohammad Habibur Rahman Talukder told BSS that small fish production has been increasing in smaller ponds, canals, wetlands and crop fields despite declining water bodies in the northern region.
"Rural people, including pregnant women, lactating mothers and children, are now eating micro-nutrient-rich fish to overcome malnutrition as a result of increased small fish production," he added.
Additional Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension for Rangpur region Agriculturist Md Sirajul Islam said that the increasing production and consumption of vegetables and fruits by rural people is improving their nutritional status.
