Flour fortification introduced in Uzbekistan

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) said yesterday that it had released a three-year grant of $2.8 million for a fortification programme in Uzbekistan to address iron deficiency anaemia among women and children in the country.

A pilot project funded by the Asian Development Bank introduced fortification to 14 large urban mills in Uzbekistan. The new project extends fortification efforts to 48 mills, including those using locally produced flour consumed by poorer households.

Around 8 million Uzbekistan people are expected to benefit from the grant, with total production of fortified flour expected to double to 1.25 million tons per year by 2010.

Uzbekistan is the fifth country to obtain a grant for food fortification from GAIN.

During 2003 the organisation awarded $14.5 million to China, Morocco, South Africa and Vietnam. The grants are made to countries with active, multi-sectoral national fortification alliances that show the most promise of bringing fortified foods to market that can improve the nutritional status of significant poor and deficient population segments within 18 months of the award, says the group's website.

Other countries to benefit from the latest round of funding include Bolivia, Côte d'Ivoire, the Dominican Republic, Mali and Pakistan.

Many of these countries do not have developed supplement markets but food fortification is seen as a more cost effective way of improving health.

The Uzbekistan project is expected to reduce iron deficiency anaemia among childbearing age women by 20 per cent. Currently, iron deficiency anemia affects over 60 per cent of women of childbearing age and one-third of children under five years in Uzbekistan, according to recent damage assessment reports by UNICEF and the Micronutrient Initiative.

The project will also help Uzbekistan's efforts to meet the UN Millennium Development Goals of reduced poverty, improved maternal health, and reduced child mortality.