Lawmaker wants NFA rice sold in markets fortified with iron

MANILA, Philippines — A lawmaker urged the Department of Health (DOH) and the National Food Authority (NFA) on Saturday to take the lead in fortifying rice sold in the markets with iron and other nutrients to arrest the prevalence of nutritional disorder among the children. Rep. Rufus Rodriguez (Cagayan de Oro) filed House Resolution 832 urging the DOH and NFA to ensure that rice sold in public markets is rich in iron. Rodriguez said Congress has already enacted Republic Act No 8976 also known as the Philippine Food Fortification Act of 2000, which mandates the DOH and NFA to take the lead in fortifying the rice sold in the markets with iron and other nutrients. Under the law, rice millers and rice importers are mandated to fortify their rice products using the standard level of fortification and directs the wholesalers and retailers to sell only iron-fortified rice. Price of rice in the market costs from a low of P33 a kilogram to a high P39 per kg. NFA rice is sold at P18.50 per kg and P25 per kg. Rodriguez said micronutrient deficiency is the most prevalent nutritional disorder among the children due to lack of Vitamin A, Iron and Iodine. Rodriguez said half of the population of the preschool children in developing countries like the Philippines is anemic, compared with only 7 percent in developed countries. Maternal mortality might be 20 times greater in developing countries than that of developed ones because severe anemia causes maternal deaths, he said. "Among the health issues that developing countries face today, none is more compelling than the pervasive and puzzling problem of Iron deficiency and its clinical form, iron deficiency anemia," he said. "Asia is responsible for three-fourths of the world's iron deficiency problem, which affects two billion people. In Asia, iron deficiency anemia affects 60% of women and also about 40 to 50% of preschoolers and primary graders," Rodriguez said. - GMANews.TV