Publication: Action Plan for the Provision of Vitamins and Minerals to the Tanzanian Population through the Enrichment of Staple Foods
Date
2012-01
ISSN
Published
2012-01
Author(s)
World Bank
Abstract
The United Republic of Tanzania has a
severe vitamin and mineral deficiency problem. Every year
deficiencies in iron, vitamin A and folic acid cost the
country over US$ 518 million, around 2.65 % of the
country's GDP. Beyond the economic losses, vitamin and
mineral deficiencies are a significant contributor to infant
mortality, with over 27,000 infant and 1,600 maternal deaths
annually attributable to this cause.2 In fact, if all of
these deaths could be avoided, the infant mortality rate
(IMR) in Tanzania could be reduced to 41.5 per 1,000
population, which would virtually ensure achievement of the
MDG goal for IMR (40/1,000). To reduce this huge annual
loss, an integrated national vitamin and mineral deficiency
control programme is needed which is embedded in the
national nutrition policy. Food fortification or enrichment
should be an integral but not the only part of such a programme.
Citation
“World Bank. 2012. Action Plan for the Provision of Vitamins and Minerals to the Tanzanian Population through the Enrichment of Staple Foods. © Washington, DC. http://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/12878 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”