Reduced anaemia attributed to fortification process

06/08/2009

The Minister for Health Dr Neil Sharma says while anaemia and micronutrient deficiencies has plagued our country for the last 2 to 3 decades, the recent Ministry of Health report shows reduced trends of anemia in pregnant women at the first booking.

Dr Sharma said this reduced trend can be attributed to the food fortification project carried out by the Flour Mills of Fiji (FMF) as the first private sector to work together in partnership with the Ministry to reduce the food and health related issues in Fiji.

“The Ministry of Health’s most recent reports shows reducing trends of anaemia in pregnant women at first booking –which can be attributed to this project,” Dr Sharma said.

He made these comments while re-presenting the Food Fortification Initiative (FFI) Award to FMF in Walu Bay yesterday. The same award was presented to FMF by (FFI) group in Sydney last year in November, 2008.

Dr Sharma said this would be scientifically validated by the Ministry’s Impact Study of Iron Fortified Flour planned for 2010.

According to Dr Sharma the 1993 and 2004 National Nutrition Survey reports show an alarming trends of the deficiency problems such as anaemia in pregnancy, low birth weights, neural tube defects and he said these concerns led to discussions with UNICEF for feasibility studies in 1999 for the possible solution being the fortification of flour in FIJI in partnership with the FMF.

The project was finally launched on 6th June 2004 with the grace period of 6 months.

Flour fortification is a process whereby flour is enriched with vitamins and minerals essential for the human body.

Dr Sharma highlighted that Fiji Fortification project included Iron, Folic Acid, Zinc, & B Vitamins- Thiamine, Riboflavin & Niacin to impact the nutritional problems, not only common to Fiji but also in the other Pacific Island countries where FMF flour is being exported.

“By enriching flour, FMF has been able to significantly help consumers to supplement their daily intake of such vitamins and minerals.”

“MOH would like to thank the UNICEF for their assistance with this important project and the FMF management for being the first private sector to work in partnership with MOH towards improving the health and well being of the nations population,” Dr Sharma added.