Forging effective strategies to combat iron deficiency. Policy and sustainability issues.

The need for combined and integrated strategies to address iron deficiency is widely recognized utilizing targeted supplementation as well as food based strategies including both fortified and nonfortified foods. The challenge is not so much knowing “what” to do as is understanding “how” to implement effective and sustainable interventions. Because the causes of iron and other micronutrient deficiencies are complex including inadequate food intake unsanitary conditions and inadequate health services the solutions may also be complex requiring multisectoral and interdisciplinary approaches. Top-down strategies are unlikely to be effective and sustainable. Rather the beneficiaries of the program at the community level must be able to understand malnutrition in simple terms to envisage potential solutions and to become “demanders” of services. The experience in Thailand provides an example of a country-wide community-based and participatory approach utilizing facilitators and motivators at the local level to implement and sustain interventions. The experience in Thailand indicates the potential for developing effective and sustainable interventions to address iron deficiency and other micronutrient problems as part of a broad community-based effort. (authors)