From left: Richard Wihtol, Director Social Sectors Division, Asian Development Bank. Toregeldy Sharmanov, President Kazakh Academy of Nutrition, Jaun Agular, UNICEF Area Representative, Nevin Scrimshaw, President International Nutrition Foundation, Yevgeniy Ganh, President League of Grain Processors and Bakers of Kazakhstan, Gary Gleason, Director Iron Deficiency Project Advisory Service.

VM Deficiency Country Reports Released at International Meeting on Fortification in Central Asia

     The Vitamin and Mineral Deficiency Report and County Damage assessments were introduced as powerful advocacy tools for planning and advocating to fortify flour and iodize all salt in six central Asia countries.

     Expanding salt iodization toward universal levels and the successful introduction of flour fortification w have been major accomplishments in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Krygyz republic, Mongolia, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan during a meeting marking the end of a regional project on "Improving Nutrition for Poor Mothers and Children," sponsored by the Asian Development Bank 2-3 September 2004 in Almaty Kazakhstan.

     At the opening of the meeting The UNICEF Area Representative to the Central Asian Republic and Kazakhstan, Dr. Jaun Aguilar launched the Vitamin and Mineral Deficiency Country Damage Reports. These new reports were also used in keynote speech of Nevin Scrimshaw, Senior Advisor to the United Nations University and by Gary Gleason, Director of the Iron Deficiency Project Advisory Service, in a session on social mobilization and advocacy, organized by the ADB in conjunction with the meeting.

     Dr. Aguilar called for each country represented to use the Vitamin and Mineral Deficiency Country Damage Assessment in upcoming meetings that will complete plans for new projects on "Sustaining Food Fortification," in central Asia that will be funded by the ADB with funds from the Japanese Fund for Poverty Reduction over the next two years.

     Major achievements on food fortification were reported on the first day of the meeting: A new law has been passed by the Kazakhstan Parliament calling for all wheat flour to be fortified with key minerals and vitamins. All six countries now have laws requiring all salt for human consumption to be iodized. A flour premix formula developed by the Kazakh Academy of Nutrition (KAN) containing iron, folic acid, Vitamin B-2, B1 and Zinc has been approved for use in wheat flour in all six countries and is already in use in several mills in each country. New and strengthened associations of salt producers and flour producers are now committed to working out means to regularly procure flour premix and potassium iodate for salt.

     The Kazakh press and the BBC interviewed Dr. Juan Aguilar, the UNICEF Area Representative, Professor Toregeldy Sharmanov, President of the KAN, and Robert Wihtol, Director of the Social Services Director of the Asian Development Bank and other ADB and UNICEF Advisors.

Other Photos from the event:

Toregeldy Sharmanov, President Kazakh Academy of Nutrition, being interviewed at fortification meeting by BBC.

Nevin Scrimshaw, President of the International Nutrition Foundation and Asian Development Bank Adviser, viewing fortification project communication materials.

Toregeldy Sharmanov, President Kazakh Academy of Nutrition, with Kazkh newsletter on food fortification.