Iron – Solving the Most Widespread Health Problem in the Modern World

Challenge: Iron deficiency anemia impairs the mental development of over 40% of the developing world's infants. It also decreases the health and energy of approximately 500 million women and leads to more than 60,000 childbirth deaths each year. Addressing iron deficiency anemia is complex because it requires increased iron intake at critical stages of the lifecycle – such as before and during pregnancy and throughout early childhood development.

Solutions: MI programs to improve the intake of iron reached 48 million people last year. MI developed a number of innovative approaches including double fortified salt with iron and iodine, lozenges and home fortification mixes containing iron and other essential nutrients. MI also provides iron-rich vitamin and mineral mixes that can be added to foods distributed as part of emergency aid or through institutional feeding programs. MI also continues to support and expand proven interventions such as the fortification of wheat and corn flour with iron. National programs in Yemen , Iran , India , Pakistan , Nepal and Bolivia benefited from MI assistance in expanding their coverage. MI also supports and works with the Flour Fortification Initiative (a network of public and private agencies) to advocate for and support flour fortification in developing countries.