Fortification programme launches in Côte d'Ivoire

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN​), which coordinates 15 food fortification programmes around the world, has provided US$3 million in addition to private sector funding and contributions from the Côte d'Ivoire government.

The money will fund the purchase of vitamin and mineral premix in the project's first year, provide part of the technical assistance to the country's three main oil processors - Unilever, Cosmivoire and Triturafand - as well as the single flour miller, Grands Moulins D'Abidjan.

Companies like BASF, DSM, Fortitech and HighChem are supplying vitamins and minerals to GAIN's projects.

Industry participation has been key, particularly in the Côte d'Ivoire programme.

GAIN communications director Tim Higham told NutraIngredients.com: "A lot of development work hasn't been able to reach all of Côte d'Ivoire because of the political situation but the project has been successful because we are working with food companies through the food supply system as well as the government and civil society."​

Vitamin A deficiencies affect 31 per cent of children under five in Côte d'Ivoire, and if no action is taken, more than 50,000 of these will die by 2006.

Anaemia due to iron deficiency affects 60 per cent of pregnant women, half the women of reproductive age and about 45 per cent of pre-school and school children. Currently 3,400 mothers are expected to die from the condition by 2006. In addition, folic acid deficiencies will be responsible for a high number of neural tube birth defects.

If all vegetable oil and wheat flour produced in the country by the end of the three-year project is fortified, it should provide 50 per cent of a person's daily needs for vitamin A and 30 per cent for iron and folic acid.

GAIN will also support a campaign to raise awareness of the value of consuming fortified food products.

Despite a difficult political situation in the country, the project aims to reach at least 14 million people.