UNICEF holds meeting on fortification of flour with vitamins to improve mother and child health

According to UNICEF, about 45 per cent of women of reproductive age suffer from iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in Kazakhstan, which has a negative impact on their health and the health of their babies. The fortification of food with vitamins and minerals, in particular, the fortification of flour with iron and folic acid, is the most cost-effective and easiest way to curb anemia. ?UNICEF is concerned over the fact that Kazakhstan, where nearly every second woman of reproductive age suffers from anemia, which is a major cause of maternal and infant mortality, has no law on mandatory fortification,? Hanaa Singer told the meeting. The Kazakh Academy for Nutrition at UNICEF?s order and GAIN?s support carried out in 2008 a study ?The assessment of the level of anemia, knowledge, attitudes, practices and behaviour on flour fortification to improve the health of Kazakhstan?s population?. According to the results of the study, 44.9 per cent of children, 45.3 per cent of women and 28.1 per cent of men suffer from IDA, which amounts to 6.5 million of Kazakhstan?s citizens. ?This is a great tragedy for us which demands adopting urgent measures. This is a threat to the national security,? Vice-president of the Kazakh Academy for Nurtion Shamil Tazhibaev said, who presented the results of the study. ?It is very important for us to work with the ministries, parliaments, millers, bakeries, NGOs, and the mass media together for each other rather than against each other,? said Tazhibaev. ?Let people think of the serious consequences of the lifting the provision on mandatory fortification of flour of the premium and first class,? he said. In August 2007 Kazakhstan lifted the provision on mandatory fortification of flour of the premium and first class from the law on the safety of food products. This led to the sharp reduction in the consumption of fortified flour among the population, as the study shows. IDA affects the physical abilities of children and adults, their immune system, increases incidence of infectious diseases and worsens cognitive abilities and behaviour at any age. The deficiency in folic acid causes inborn defects in the embryo in the first four weeks of pregnancy, when women may even not know that they are pregnant. According to the Damage Assessment Report for Kazakhstan (2004), every day eight children die in Kazakhstan because of the weak immune system caused by the severe IDA, every day two babies are born in Kazakhstan with severe innate defects because of the deficiency in folic acid in their mothers. In general, economic losses account for up to 5 per cent of Kazakhstan?s GDP every year because of the poor nutrition. The adequate consumption of folic acid reduces the risk of developing cancer of the pancreas. The deficiency in folic acid leads to the incidence of the disease of prostate and adenoma among men. In the meantime, the neighbouring countries to which Kazakhstan exports its flour ? Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan (Tajikistan is in the process of adopting the law) ? have long time ago adopted laws saying that both imported and local flour must be fortified. Therefore, the situation is paradoxical: being a leading flour producer in the world, Kazakhstan helps improve the health situation in the neighbouring countries, whereas the level of anemia among women of reproductive age, children and men in Kazakhstan remains high. ?This situation is not acceptable for us. We are pleased that Kazakhstan exports fortified flour, but we have to understand that Kazakhstan?s population also needs fortified flour and the flour that we consumer here must be also fortified,? UNICEF Representative Hanaa Singer said. The participants in the meeting noted that without the relative law and political will the country?s millers will not voluntarily fortify flour with vitamins, folic acid and other minerals. Tazhibaev said those countries which adopted the law on voluntary flour fortification completely ceased fortifying flour that led to the rise of the incidence of anemia and other diseases. As a result of the meeting, the participants outlined ways and tasks on further measures to fortify flour with vitamins, create necessary demand for fortifying flour among consumers and develop recommendations for adopting relative legal acts on mandatory flour fortification. About UNICEF. UNICEF is on the ground in 155 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. The world?s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.