Swapan K. Roy, Editor-in-Chief
Dr Swapan K. Roy is the International Senior Scientist, Chairperson BOT of Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation and Nutrition Foundation of Bangladesh and Professor of the Nutrition and Food Science Department, University of South Asia and the author of many publications on the history of science. He has a Ph.D. in Nutrition from University of London (1987-1990); FRCP from Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (2008); Diploma on Food, Nutrition, Biotechnology & Poverty (1984-1985) and M.Sc. in Human Nutrition (1983-1984) and MBBS (1973) from University of Dhaka. Dr Roy has had significant role in diagnosis and management of acute and persistent diarrhea in developing countries of the world. He is the first person who discovered the impact of zinc in diarrhoea in the world. For his invaluable scientific researches as a moving force at the ICDDRB paving the way in the identification of the benefits of zinc which led to the current global recommendation on zinc supplementation in acute diarrhea that resulted in significant impact on child survival and for his continuing efforts to the improvement of nutritional status of malnourished children, adolescent and mothers. In recognition of his contribution, he received an international award from 13th ASCODD Organizing Committee (2012).
Now the Government of Bangladesh has scaled up zinc supplementation in the whole country through special program under National Nutrition Services (NNS). He is an internationally recognized scientist; his interests are nutrition, ranging from molecular science and public health policy to the history of nutrition. During the last four decades, as a distinguished scientist, philosopher and activist for advancement of protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding, complementary feeding and maternal nutrition. He has spearheaded the IYCF movement by involving the Honourable Prime Minister of Bangladesh for inaugurating the WBW for three consecutive years from 2009 to 2011. Among his 200 publications, many have been translated into global policy and programs such major papers on the impact of zinc supplementation on intestinal permeability in Bangladeshi children with acute diarrhoea and persistent syndrome; intensive nutrition education with or without supplementary feeding improves the nutritional status of moderately malnourished children in Bangladesh; Prevention of malnutrition among young children in rural Bangladesh by a food–health-care educational intervention: a randomized controlled trial; food and nutrition bulletin. He is also an eminent member of global policy makers in nutrition movement. He has made concerted efforts on nutrition by involving various relevant ministries for breastfeeding and nutrition movement in Bangladesh. He is organizer of many international and national scientific conferences. He has worldwide recognition for his innovative science leading to human benefits and development. Dr Roy has a passion to reduce maternal malnutrition and reduce low birth weight babies, and such work has been done and published internationally with a tremendous reduction of LBW which needs immediate scaling up in Bangladesh. Many of his research output has been applied nationally and internationally as he is able to communicate and convince the policy make with his interpersonal skills, knowledge, vision and leadership quality.