FAISALABAD, June 4: Renowned scientists and researchers have said that fortification of iron in wheat and corn flour should be launched on a war footing to reduce the incidence of anaemia in the country.

Speaking to participants of a national workshop held here on “Iron fortification of wheat flour,” experts said more than 50 per cent deaths of under five-year-old children were taking place due to malnutrition globally while 38 per cent children were under weight because of iron deficiency.

Ayub Agricultural Research Institute (AARI) Director-General Dr Khalid Husain Gill said about 3.5 billion people and 30 to 60 per cent women and children in the developing world were affected by nutritional disorders. He said the prevalence of anemia among pregnant women was 52 per cent in the world and 76 per cent in South Asia. In Pakistan, almost all pregnant and lactating women, about two-third children, half of all women of children-bearing age and over 30 per cent adult men were suffering from anemia, he added.

Mr Gill said the people most affected by anemia were pre-school age children, women of child-bearing age and adolescent girls.

He said Venezuela had successfully launched fortification of iron in wheat and corn flour, reducing 50 per cent anemia.

Agriculture Engineering faculty dean Dr Jehangir Sial stressed the need for introduction of fortification technology throughout Pakistan.

He said the University of Agriculture had introduced iron fortification with the help of health ministry and now this project would be extended scientifically.

Dr Faqir Muhammad Anjum said main intervention strategies followed world-wide for Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) among vulnerable groups were iron supplementation, dietary counselling, control of infectious and parasitic diseases and food fortification.

He said in the present scenario, food-based approach had emerged as a suitable technology to combat micro-nutrient disorders.

A number of scientists, experts and industrialists from all over the country attended the workshop.