New strategy to control iron deficiency developed

This was disclosed at a daylong workshop on 'Home Fortification of Weaning Food with Sprinkles: A New Strategy to Control Iron Deficiency Anemia among Infants and Young Children' held at the BRAC Centre in the city on February 11, says a press release.

The workshop reviewed the interventions for controlling iron deficiency anemia among the children, shared experiences of the ongoing sprinkles project, and formulated a strategy of home fortification to improve iron and other micronutrient contents of weaning foods in Bangladesh.

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Director General of Health Services Prof Mizanur Rahman, Joint Secretary of the World Health Organisation Dr Salina Ahsan, and Head of the Department of GI/Nutrition at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada Prof Stanley Zlotkin attended the workshop as special guests.

Prof Zlotkin, in his keynote speech, gave an informative presentation on the new sprinkles strategy.

BRAC Chairperson Fazle Hossain Abed chaired the first session of the workshop.

He suggested immediate social mobilisation for dissemination of the strategy.

Abed also requested Prof Zlotkin to develop a similar home-based iron deficiency remedy for women of reproductive age.

The workshop was organised jointly by the BRAC and the Institute of Public Health Nutrition (IPHN) under the sponsorship of the Micronutrient Initiative Bangladesh and the Hospital for Sick Children.