Kampala 30th April 2013 -- The Minister of Health Hon Dr Christine Ondoa inaugurated the working group on food fortification that will support advocacy, social mobilisation, promotion of increased production of good quality fortified products and nurturing an enabling environment for food fortification in Uganda.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Dr Ondoa said that the government will implement mandatory food fortification policy for medium and large scale targeting flours and oils at the beginning. She called upon members of the working group to support implementation of the policy.

The working group is drawn from Health and line sectors of Agriculture, Trade, Industry, Cooperatives and Education. Others are from research institutions, academia, and private sector for in both manufacturing and trade, bilateral and multilateral development Partners including the United Nations Agencies.

The WHO Representative for Uganda Dr Wondimagegnehu Alemu who represented the UN Agencies explained the consequences of micronutrient malnutrition that go beyond the obvious clinical manifestation. He advised government, development partners and the working group to explore use of multiple approaches including dietary diversification, bio fortification of commonly consumed local foods and strengthening the health system to increase coverage of supplementation.

Uganda started food fortification program in 1993 starting with universal salt iodisation and currently 98% of households have adequately iodised salt. In 2002 government launched voluntary food fortification starting with flour and oils. Despite the efforts micronutrient deficiencies in general remain a public health problem where a half of children under five years are anaemic and 38% are vitamin A deficient.

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For more information contact :

Benjamin Sensasi, Health Promotion Advisor, WHO Country Office
Tel+256-414-334400
Email: sensasib [at] ug.afro.who.int (sensasib[at]ug[dot]afro[dot]who[dot]int)