Media centre

Flour fortification starts in western Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan at the forefront in the worldwide fight against disease:
Iron-deficiency anaemia kills women and children throughout the world, but Uzbekistan is leading the way in protecting its population from suffering.

Urgench, Khorezm. 22 November 2005. Uzbekistan is one of the first countries to benefit from the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition’s (GAIN) flour fortification programme. Uzbekistan will receive US$2.8 million over a 3 year period for a national campaign to reduce serious health problems amongst women of child-bearing age and children, caused by iron deficiency.

“Iron-deficiency anaemia is a major cause of death amongst children at birth, as well as having a debilitating impact on the health of children and women. It impacts on the development of the brain, on the productivity of adults and affects mental development in children. By addressing this deficiency in children, we can help them to realise their full potential for development and contribution to society.” UNICEF Deputy Regional Director, Ms. Shahnaz Kianian-Firouzgar, speaking in Tashkent, 29 July 2005,

Small amounts of iron are essential for a mother’s health and children’s growth and development. Without it, iron deficiency has a devastating impact, as it:
• Causes anaemia, a major cause of maternal mortality and of child mortality amongst children born to anaemic mothers;
• Impairs the mental development of 40-60% of the developing world’s infants;
• Debilitates the health of 500 million women worldwide; and
• Leads to more than 60,000 childbirth deaths worldwide, every year.

Today’s event will highlight the importance of preventing micronutrient deficiencies and celebrate the start of flour fortification in Khorezm and Karakalpakstan. Flour will be fortified with iron and folic acid (the latter is one of the few nutrients known to prevent neural tube birth defects, such as spina bifida - a birth defect resulting from the incorrect development of the spinal cord). Three mills in Khorezm region have began fortifying flour and another three in Karakalpakstan. The programme will be backed up by an extensive awareness raising campaign.

On 22 November 2005, an orientation meeting for government, bread/flour industry, public and international organizations and media will be held at Khorezm Khokimiyat, 20 Al-Horazmiy St, Urgench from 9.30 – 11.45 am. It will be followed by a visit to ‘Khonka Don Mahsulotlari’ flour mill in Khonka region. The events will be attended by Khokim of Khorezm oblast, senior local Government officials, Mr. Hossaini, Head of UNICEF office in Uzbekistan and Chief pediatrician of the Ministry of Health Ms. Akhmedova.

On 24 November, an orientation meeting will be held at Council of Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, Nukus city, from 9.30 – 11.45 am. This will be followed by a visit to JSC ‘Nukus un Zavodi’ flour mill in Nukus city. The events will be attended by Chairperson of Council of Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpaksta and senior local Government officials.

The flour fortification project itself is very cost effective. It will cost just 100 Sums per person, per year, a remarkably low figure considering the long-term benefits both for the health of the population and the potentially positive impact upon economic productivity.

Background to the project
Women’s and children’s health is under threat from malnutrition in Uzbekistan. Studies estimate that 40-60% of 6-24 month-old children are at risk of disrupted brain development, whilst the rate of anaemia in women of childbearing age is over 60%, rising to over 90% in Khorezm and Karakalpakstan*.

Anaemia, caused by a lack of iron, is one of the common disorders known as micronutrient deficiencies. Anemia is a major cause of impaired mental and physical development in children. It is also a significant cause of maternal mortality, causing complications and infections before and during delivery. Moreover, infants born to anaemic mothers also suffer from anaemia, low birthweight or die in some circumstances.

Statistics show that the level of consumption of nutritionally valuable products, such as lean meat, milk products, eggs, fish, vegetables and fruits has declined in many CEE/CIS transitional countries. At the same time, the prevailing traditional diet, high in consumption of flour products, potatoes, fatty foods, grain and beans, together with the consumption of tea during meals, which can prevent absorption of iron from food, has exacerbated the problem and led to vitamin and microelement deficiencies.

In the absence of a diet containing sufficiently nutritional foods, the most efficient and low-cost method of improving the health of the nation is through the fortification of food products, including the enrichment of flour products with the necessary vitamins and microelements.

The National Programme of Flour Fortification
The GAIN supported flour fortification project commenced in July 2005, with fortification resuming in four flour mills in Tashkent, followed by Khorezm and Karakalpakstan. Eventually all 48 “Uzdonmahsulot” (former state bread and grain company) owned flour mills, together with private mills, will be equipped to produce fortified flour. According to preliminary estimations this will enable up to 90% of the population at risk to be covered. The resumption of flour fortification was celebrated at a media launch held at “Galla – Alteg” flour mill in Tashkent, on 29 July 2005, preceded by a week of intense public awareness-raising amongst bread retailers, by members of the Children’s Parliament.

The project is a continuation of an Asian Development Bank (ADB) JFPR9005 pilot project, which as part of the existing ‘National Programme of Flour Fortification’, was established in order to improve the quality of flour produced in Uzbekistan.

The GAIN project implemented by the Ministry of Health, JSC Uzdonmahsulot (State bread and grain company), UNICEF, World Bank and GAIN. It will also involve the support of the Ministry of Public Education, Association of Bread Producers “Toshkent non”, other public organizations and foundations, and crucially, the Mass media.

* Source: Damage Assessment Report for Uzbekistan, UNICEF-The Micronutrient Initiative/ Uzbekistan CCA 2003.

For further information, contact Mr. Rustam Haydarov, UNICEF Communication Officer, GAIN Project or Mr Bobur Turdiev, UNICEF Communication Officer.

rhaydarov@unicef.org
bturdiev@unicef.org

For additional information look at UNICEF Uzbekistan website:
www.unicef.org/uzbekistan/
.

Anthony Burnett, Communication Specialist

Español Français

Search:

Email this article