For nearly two decades, the Department’s JiVitA project has conducted studies in rural northwestern Bangladesh to inform, guide and motivate policies by identifying effective and low-cost nutrition interventions that can improve health and survival of mothers, infants and children across rural South Asia where undernutrition, infectious disease and mortality remain unacceptably high and health services inadequate.

In a recent large-scale study tested three novel, nutrient-dense complementary food supplements designed for their ability to improve growth and reduce stunting, wasting, and improve micronutrient status and cognition. These “ready-to-use” food supplements are prepared locally with available local ingredients to ensure long-term sustainability of their use in programs.