Only healthy food is not enough to ensure a child's physical development. Cleanliness and good hygiene practice are also important to prevent stunting, said experts at a workshop yesterday.

About 40 percent of the country's children below five years are stunted due to malnutrition, they added.

The event titled "Approaches to Stunting Free Villages: A Brainstorming Workshop" was organised by Max Foundation with the support of Space, Unnayan Sohojogy Team, and Commitment Consultants at Bhorer Kagoj office in the capital.

Additional Secretary to the health and family welfare ministry Subhash Chandra Sarker said policy makers used to regard proper sanitation as a way of preventing water-borne diseases like cholera and diarrhoea. But ensuring sanitation for preventing stunting is a new understanding about malnutrition, he added.

In the key presentation, Adviser to Max Foundation Mark Ellery said about 35 percent of the stunted children are victims of malnutrition and diarrhoea. However, reason behind the stunting of the remaining 65 percent is still uncertain.

Bhorer Kagoj Editor Shyamol Dutta moderated the event where Max Foundation Country Director Riad Imam Mahmud, and Head of Policy and Advocacy at WaterAid Shamim Ahmed also spoke.