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Micronutrient research in progress

Examination for scurvy in Tanzania

An article in the last issue of Field Exchange presented a review of the approaches that agencies and others use for identifying micronutrient deficiencies. The review had been commissioned by WHO and illustrated the many gaps that persist in our knowledge of nutrition deficiencies, how to identify them and how to respond appropriately.

The Institute of Child Health (ICH) is currently nearing completion of a project with considerable relevance to the findings of the WHO review.

The project, which is funded by UNHCR, Geneva, has sought to address key aspects in improving awareness, detection, and interventions for micronutrient malnutrition in refugee and emergency affected populations.

The five main activities being implemented are:

It is hoped to publish the findings of these trials and studies as they are finalised in subsequent issues of Field Exchange.

For further information contact: Andy Seal, Institute of Child Health, London, UK tel: 0044 (0)20 7905 2233. email: A.Seal@ich.ucl.ac.uk

Show footnotes

1Stainless steel is a metal alloy that contains iron. Studies conducted by ICH have shown that the iron content of typical refugee foods is increased if they are cooked in stainless steel cooking pots.

 

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Micronutrient research in progress. Field Exchange 17, November 2002. p4. www.ennonline.net/fex/17/progress

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