National Flour Fortification Programme Revived to Tackle Anaemia

The National Flour Fortification Programme has been launched by the Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade (MOSIT), the Ministry of Health and Population (MOHP), and the National Nutrition Institute, in collaboration with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). This programme constitutes a part of the initiative to improve nutrition and public health, particularly in response to the growing prevalence of Iron-Deficiency Anaemia.

The programme has created a fortification mix endorsed by the NNI which will enrich the subsidised wheat flour used for baking bread by adding the essential micronutrients of iron and folic acid.

Sufficient amounts of this fortification premix have been sourced for the programme’s first phase as result of initial funding from the German government. The Egyptian government and the WFP are working to roll out this fortified subsidised bread in 13 governorates with the highest rates of anaemia through public bakeries. The WFP has also facilitated the training of over 600 millers operating flour mills nationwide.

Anaemia, particularly iron-related anaemia, is a growing challenge to public health in Egypt, with the 2021 Population Research Report, issued by the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics, revealing a rise of 43% among children under five and a notably high prevalence among women of reproductive age.