Iraq: Beefed up flour to tackle anaemia

[Robbien]

BAGHDAD, 23 August (IRIN) - An increasing number of anaemia cases among children and women countrywide is being tackled by the Iraqi government and the United Nations by supplying flour fortified with iron and folic acid as part of monthly food rations.

"Rates of anaemia have risen considerably recently in Iraqi society but especially among children. This project aims to reverse this increasing problem," said Osama Abdul-Aziz, director of the Nutrition Research Institute.

According to Abdul-Aziz, 60 percent of students in primary schools and 79 percent of women at childbearing age in Basra governorate have anaemia. Meanwhile, 50 percent of pregnant women in the capital, Baghdad, have the disorder.

. . .

"There has been an increase of about 50 percent of cases of anaemia compared to before the US-led invasion in 2003," Ahmed added, noting that the increase in anaemia cases in children at primary school has also affected their learning development.

"Anaemia makes a person weaker and delays growth development, which in the future can also affect the mental health . We hope that with the new programme we can have the success that other Middle Eastern countries have," Ahmed said.

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/LSGZ-6SXGW6?OpenDocument

[Soloflecks]

1. Couldn't anemia be a symptom of radiation poisoning?

http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/r/radiation_sickness/intro.htm

[Kagemusha]

2. Certainly but malnutrition is a more widespread & preventable problem

It's a good thing someone finally did something about the preventable part.

[mom cat]

3. That is a frightening possibility and one that should be researched.