Govt boosts food fortification efforts

MOROGORO: THE Ministry of Health will continue working with stakeholders to promote food fortification as a key strategy to address vitamin and mineral deficiencies affecting some communities across the country.

Assistant Director for Nutrition Services at the Ministry, Ms Neema Mwapili, said this while delivering the Ministry’s remarks during a workshop to validate the implementation plan for the national food fortification programme, including the iodisation of salt.

The workshop, held recently in Morogoro, was organised by the Tanzania Food and Nutrition Centre (TFNC) and brought together stakeholders from government institutions and the private sector.

Ms Mwapili stressed that food fortification is a critical public health intervention, which the Ministry has prioritised in its efforts to combat micronutrient deficiencies among the population.

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She noted that the Ministry of Health has continued investing in food fortification initiatives, recognising that such efforts require strong partnerships with the private sector.

Several government ministries were involved in the initiative, she said, including the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, all of which play key roles in food production and safety.

“The Ministry’s responsibility is to ensure that people have access to food that is safe and beneficial to their health,” Ms Mwapili added, commending the ministries responsible for food production for prioritising increased food output while ensuring the addition of essential nutrients.

She expressed optimism that by 2030, the country will have made significant progress, reaching at least half of Tanzania’s population with these interventions. Meanwhile, nutrition specialist Ms Joyce Ngegba from UNICEF said the organisation has been at the forefront of supporting and financing food fortification programmes.

Director of Government Relations and Policy for East Africa at Sanku, Gwao Omari Gwao, said the organisation distributes special dosifier technology to small-scale flour mills in both urban and rural areas.

The technology enables millers to add essential nutrients such as iron, zinc and vitamins to maize flour. Mr Gwao added that Sanku has already reached several district councils across the country, distributing the technology to maize flour mills, including 105 mills in Morogoro Region.