September 16, 2008	Tuesday	Ramazan 15, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Sept 15: The nutrition wing of the Ministry of Health on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding with the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) for providing iron-fortified flour to consumers in four major cities at the price of ordinary flour.

Under the accord, the National Wheat Flour Fortification Project will initially help poor and iron-deficient people in Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar.

The project will provide 40 microfeeders and 77,520kg of iron premix for fortification of 775,520 metric tons of USC flour over a period of one year.

Necessary training in industrial implementation and fortification quality assurance will be organised for selected flour mills. The Iron-fortified flour will be sold at utility stores outlets from this year.

Health Ministry estimates suggest that nearly two thirds of children under five years of age in Pakistan are iron-deficient and suffer from iron deficiency anemia (IDA), a condition in which a person has inadequate amounts of iron to meet body demands during periods of rapid growth and pregnancy.

The IDA is usually caused by a diet insufficient in iron or blood loss. Most at risk are young children whose growth demands are great, the elderly whose diets are many times lacking and women who are pregnant or of childbearing age. Fatigue is the most common complaint, along with malaise (vague feeling of physical discomfort or uneasiness) sensitivity to cold, shortness of breath, dizziness and restless legs syndrome (uncomfortable feeling in legs, sensations of pulling, tingling, crawling, accompanied by a need to move the legs).

The Ministry of Health says iron deficiency is causing an increase in the health burden and arresting the economic growth in Pakistan due to weakened health of adult population. It is badly affecting the mental and physical growth of children as well.

The deficiency may easily be addressed by ensuring daily intake of 10mg for male and 16-18mg for females.

Pakistan initiated flour fortification in 2007 in partnership with the Pakistan Flour Mills Association. Seed money for the project has been provided by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN). At present, 82 flour mills are producing fortified flour, where iron premix being provided free to them. Arrangements have also been made with the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, University of Agriculture Faisalabad and the National Institute of Health for testing and ensuring quality of fortification.