Due to lack of fortified wheat 50 percent of Pakistani women in the age bracket 15-45 and 69 percent of children of less than 5 years age have been suffering from iron deficiency as the shortage of iron and folic leads to anemia.
The speakers expressed this while addressing a seminar entitled "Base Line Studies" held under the auspices of National Program for Wheat Fortification here on other day. Dr Mushtaq Ahmed Khan, Chief National Health Policy Unit, Ministry of Health, explained in detail the utility and importance of the fortified wheat.
He informed the audience that investigation has showed the problem of blood deficiency in the past several years has been on the rise and that steps have to be taken to control it. Women need, 18mg and men 9mg dose of Iron everyday, he added.
Dr Qamar Salman, Consultant Contech International, in his presentation on Base Line Studies pointed out that though fortified wheat was not available yet a majority of mills intend to do so provided the government offers the technical and financial assistance.
According to him the fortified wheat produced by certain mills was being exported to Afghanistan and other countries, which was stopped later on. The research indicates that the shopkeepers want government to start an awareness campaign. The survey indicates that only 34% of the men are aware and that awareness among women is greater, the speaker informed.
Survey has also revealed that little use of yeast also helps provide iron. He urged the ministry of health to launch a full-fledged campaign to provide fortified wheat so that blood deficiency is cured. Dr Nur Ahmed Khan, National Programme Manager MI, Professor Faqir Anjum, Director General, NIFST, Dr Imtiaz Malang National Co-ordinator NWFFP, Dr Rakhshanda Bilal, Director PAEC and Mohammad Yaqub Qureshi, Media Advisor also spoke on occasion.