NEWS BITS

A NUTRITION WEEK IN MARRAKECH, MOROCCO
by Joseph Mutuku, representing AJFAND

The week running from 3rd to 8th February 2003, was a very important one in the global nutrition calendar. During this time, several significant events took place, namely, the:
" XXI International Vitamin A Consultative Group (IVACG) Meeting (3rd to 5th February 2003)
" International Iron Consultative Group (INACG) Meeting (6th February 2003)
" International Zinc Consultative group (IZiNC) Meeting (7th February 2003) and
" A Wrap up by the International Union of Nutritional Sciences (IUNS) Symposium (8th February 2003)

During the IVACG meeting, various issues were discussed at length. The following list is not exhaustive:
1. Food supplementation with special focus on post National Immunization Days (NIDs) and Expanded Program on Immunization (EPIs).
2. Dosing schedules and safety implications.
3. Cost analysis of supplementation.
4. Global and regional status of vitamin A.
5. Nutrient interactions.
6. Food based approaches: fortification as well as dietary diversification. The meeting was concluded with a discussion on integrated approaches and communication as well as present and future challenges.

The INACG symposium, on the other hand, focused on three thematic areas:
1. Infectious disease, Iron deficiency and Anemia control.
2. Updates on issues related to Iron deficiency and Anemia control and;
3. Reducing the prevalence of Anemia: planning and implementing a Strategic Communication Approach.

Among the key issues that the IZiNC symposium focused on were:
1. New advances in estimating zinc requirements and absorption of zinc from mixed diets.
2. A general overview of zinc interventions.
3. Effects of zinc status on morbidity and mortality and;
4. Assessment of population zinc status.

The three micronutrient meetings were organized by the International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) Research Foundation; IVACG/INACG/IZiNC; the Moroccan Ministry of Health; United Nations Technical Agencies, the private sector, multilateral agencies as well as non-governmental organizations in Morocco. Funding was provided by, among others, the Micronutrient Global Leadership Project of the Office of Health, Infectious Disease and Nutrition; the Bureau for Global Health as well as the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Additional assistance came from the Task Force: Sight and Life, for IVACG.

The IUNS symposium was held as a post-IVACG/IZiNC/INACG-meeting activity, organized by IUNS, with support from the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB). The symposium was designed so as to tackle (two) key issues: 1) North and West African Food Cultures and Health 2) Fatty Foods and Health as well as Fatty Fruits and Health. As part of a sustainable, food-diversity approach to alleviating Vitamin A deficiency, the potential of red palm oil must be explored.