Govt intensifies malnutrition fight

The Ministry of Health has developed a training programme to enable the implementation of the national fortification programme in fighting malnutrition. The programme is being implemented in partnership with Project Healthy Children (PHC) and Rwanda Bureau of Standards. The fortification monitoring training programme that will benefit mainly staff of the three partners will basically equip them with skills of ensuring quality assurance and quality control of fortified products. “We want the inspectors equipped with the know-how to ensure the food on the market meets the national fortification standards in order to have an impact on the nutritional status of the population,” said Laura Rowe, Chief Operating Officer at PHC. She told The New Times that the inspectors will be trained on internal and external monitoring of fortified foods, proper sampling techniques, effective and affordable qualitative and quantitative testing methods as well as data handling and management. Officials are optimistic that if properly implemented and monitored, the programme will enable the fortification programme increase adult productivity by 30 per cent, reduce childhood anaemia and iodine deficiency by 20 per cent, and reduce maternal mortality by 30 per cent as well as reduce neural tube defects and vitamin A deficiency by 30 per cent. However, they warn that there is need for an effective mechanism to monitor and ensure that local producers and importers understand and comply with the new fortification standards. Rowe said her organisation will continue working with the government especially in areas of consumer awareness campaigns and that a logo will soon be developed that will be appearing on all fortified products. Fortification is the process of adding essential vitamins and minerals like iron, vitamin A, folic acid, zinc, iodine to staple foods.

National

Govt intensifies malnutrition fight