Nourishing Futures: The Nutrition Lab at Rumiya Nursing College, Naogaon

In Bangladesh, where malnutrition and diet-related diseases remain pressing challenges, Rumiya Nursing College, Naogaon is taking a proactive stance with its Nutrition Lab—a dynamic space where science, culture, and public health converge. Here, nursing students learn to combat stunting, manage chronic illnesses, and promote wellness through evidence-based nutritional strategies, tailored to the unique needs of Bangladesh’s communities.

Nearly 24% of Bangladesh’s population faces food insecurity, while dual burdens of undernutrition and obesity demand urgent attention. Nurses, as frontline healthcare providers, play a pivotal role in addressing these issues. The Nutrition Lab empowers students to:

• Tackle Malnutrition: Address stunting (28% of under-5 children) and micronutrient deficiencies (e.g., iron, vitamin A).

• Manage Chronic Diseases: Educate patients on diabetes, hypertension, and kidney disease—conditions exacerbated by dietary habits.

• Preserve Cultural Diets: Integrate traditional Bangladeshi foods (e.g., fish, lentils, leafy greens) into balanced meal plans.

“Good nutrition is the first medicine—it heals from within. by Md. Murad Hossain”

Inside the Nutrition Lab: Bridging Science and Tradition

Our lab blends modern technology with Bangladeshi culinary heritage to create practical, scalable solutions:

1. Dietary Analysis Tools

• Food Composition Databases: Localized data on Bengali foods (e.g., hilsa fish, panta bhat) for accurate nutrient profiling.

2. Cooking Demonstration Station

• A kitchenette to prepare cost-effective, nutrient-dense meals using locally available ingredients (e.g., moringa leaves).

• Workshops on safe food handling and reducing arsenic contamination in rice—a critical issue in Naogaon’s groundwater-affected areas.

3. Digital Nutrition Platforms

• Apps like NutriBangla to design meal plans aligned with Bangladeshi dietary guidelines.

• Simulations for counseling patients in Bengali on portion control or managing gestational diabetes.

4. Community Outreach Kits

• Portable tools for fieldwork: iodine test kits, breastfeeding guides, and visual aids on balanced thalis (plates) for rural households.

Faculty Expertise: Rooted in Local Wisdom

Our instructors combine global knowledge with Bangladeshi pragmatism:

• Traditional Remedies: Teaching the science behind home practices like haldi doodh (turmeric milk) for immunity.

• Policy Alignment: Linking lessons to Bangladesh’s National Nutrition Policy 2015 and SDG goals.

• Cultural Sensitivity: Addressing myths (e.g., “pregnant women should avoid fish”) with evidence-based approaches.

The Nutrition Lab at Rumiya Nursing College, Naogaon is more than a classroom—it’s a lifeline for Bangladesh’s health. By merging ancestral wisdom with modern science, we’re training nurses to prescribe not just medicines, but hope, one balanced meal at a time.

Join us in building a nation where every plate nourishes, and every life thrives.