Field Stories
Meet a health and wellness messenger providing peer support in India
March 20, 2025
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Story
Setting adolescent girls up for success in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh through improved nutrition
In the bustling hub of Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, a cross-cutting nutrition project has strengthened the knowledge, awareness and access to services for adolescents to grow into their potential.
Posted on April 16, 2025
In a high school in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, 15-year-old Tumpa stands in front of her class, holding a small book filled with nutrition facts. Her classmates listen as she explains the importance of dietary diversity and the benefits of weekly iron and folic acid supplements (WIFAS) to prevent anaemia. Tumpa is sharing this information as part of her role as a Pushti Bondhu, or “nutrition friend.” In addition to being a student, Tumpa is an advocate for health and wellbeing among her peers, family and community.
Tumpa’s journey in adolescent nutrition is part of the transformative work made possible through the Adopting a Multisectoral Approach for Nutrition (AMAN) project. In partnership with the Government of Bangladesh, and with support from the Government of Canada, the AMAN project worked to strengthen the capacity of eight priority ministries to implement the Multisectoral Minimum Nutrition Package and improve the ability of district and upazila (subdistrict) nutrition coordination committees to plan, budget, implement and monitor gender-responsive multisectoral annual nutrition action plans.
In practical terms, the AMAN project has helped equip adolescents like Tumpa with the tools to improve their lives through nutrition.
Cox’s Bazar is one of the country’s most complex regions. According to the Poverty Map of Bangladesh, more than a quarter of the district’s population lives below the poverty line, 27.8%, compared to the national average of 18.7%. Limited resources have been further strained by the Rohingya refugee crisis, compounded by the district’s exposure to extreme weather. The intersecting challenges require robust, thoughtful and strategic plans to address the inequalities that have enabled malnutrition to persist.
“My health was not good,” Tumpa shared in an interview with Nutrition International. “I suffered from low self-esteem, had irregular periods, and performed poorly in my studies. My studies were nearly on the verge of stopping.”
In the country, 41% of children and 28.9% of non-pregnant, non-lactating women aged 15–49 experience anaemia. Adolescents are particularly vulnerable, as their physical and mental development depends on proper nutrition. Yet many lack access to the resources and information they need to grow into their potential.
Through the AMAN project, teachers from 150 secondary schools received hands-on training to promote nutrition and health while selected students were trained as nutrition friends. Training is put into action on “WIFAS Days,” where the weekly supplements are distributed alongside lessons on healthy eating, menstrual health, the risks of child marriage and early pregnancy.
In 2023, the AMAN project started operating at Tumpa’s school. The combination of enhanced lessons on nutrition and health paired with technical support to the Department of Health Services to bridge supply chain gaps for WIFAS meant Tumpa and her classmates could receive essential nutrition support.
“In a short time, my life changed,” Tumpa shared. “After taking the weekly iron tablets, I noticed many changes. I no longer felt fatigued. I also learned that healthy food doesn’t have to be expensive and a balanced diet with vegetables and other nutritious foods is essential for us.”
Tumpa uses her WIFAS diary—a tool that combines essential health information with a weekly calendar—to track her supplement intake. The diary has become a favourite among students, providing tips on balanced diets, managing nutrition during menstruation and recognizing symptoms of anaemia.
She also has discussions with her peers on topics like nutrition, dietary diversity and the benefits of delaying marriage and pregnancy. She meets regularly with nutrition friends at other schools to share best practices and generate new ideas for spreading health messages within their communities. And she’s bringing those messages back home.
“The AMAN project has not only improved my nutrition but has also raised awareness about nutrition in my family,” Tumpa further explained. “I have received all kinds of support, including for my studies.”
Tumpa now proudly ranks first in her class. In 2025, due to her grades and passion, the Department of Education helped her to gain admission to a specific high school with a strong science program so she can pursue her desire to become an engineer.
Despite the progress, there are still challenges that remain. Tumpa says that myths about iron and folic acid supplements reducing fertility persist, while economic barriers and the distance to health centres prevent some girls from accessing essential services.
Still, Tumpa is hopeful. She believes that education and community engagement can overcome these obstacles. She suggests integrating vocational education into nutrition programs, empowering girls to build confidence and be able to pursue a career to contribute to their families’ financial stability.
“Now, I am a Pushti Bondhu [nutrition friend] at my school, encouraging my peers, who find motivation by seeing me,” Tumpa shared proudly. “I am working to spread awareness about nutrition. Discussing proper hygiene and nutrition with teenagers at the right time can protect them from malnutrition.”
Projects like AMAN show what’s possible when high-level policymaking meets grassroots advocacy. By securing the WIFAS supply chain, training teachers and empowering adolescent girls, AMAN has helped build a healthier, more equitable future in Cox’s Bazar—one nutrition friend at a time.
Learn more about our work in Bangladesh.
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