TNAG-2110-FCO40-3009-Hong-Kong-participation-in-international-organisations-1990 — Page 215

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to be continued. Iodized oil injections will need to continue in endemic goitre

whilst areas

attempts are made to extend salt fortification programmes to all risk groups. Vitamin A capsule distribution to small children will equally need to be continued in those countries where vitamin A deficiency levels are of public health importance. Risk factors, such as measles and diarrhoea, will need to be addressed at the same time through oral rehydration programmes and vaccination. For nutritional anaemia, folate and iron tablet distribution together with deworming and anti-malarial measures will need to be continued for those at risk. these necessary and eventually life-saving health interventions should, however, not distract governments from continuing investment in long-term agricultural-based interventions generating the availability and intake of micronutrients through locally grown foods and their products.

5.3

Mediu-term Programmes

5.3.1 Improved Food Distribution Systems

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38. Many food distribution systems are operating in the Region, functioning through subsidies, rationing, free food distribution or food stamp schemes. The description of these systems provided in this document indicates clearly that most of them are restricted to cereals and coarse grains. A more varied choice of commodities should be considered, with a view to improving the intake of the specific nutrients needed to combat micro-nutrient deficiencies. Vitamin A or carotene rich foods could be included together with oils and fats to improve the absorption of vitamin A.

Such foods would serve also to improve intakes and bio-availability of iron. Iodized salt distribution, either free or at a subsidized price, could substantially reduce the prevalence of goitre.

39. Recognizing that the diversification of food distribution systems to include non-traditional commodities entails a substantial cost increase, it will be necessary to improve the targeting and efficiency of such systems. To achieve this, there is the need to establish nutrition surveillance systems, both to identify areas of high prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies within a country for priority targeting and to monitor the implementation and impact of the distribution system. The FAO/WHO/UNICEF/ACC-SCN Interagency Food and Nutrition Surveillance Programme, has among its tasks to organise such surveillance systems and could do so at the request of member countries.

40. Food aid programmes continue to represent a substantial component of national food distribution systems. Here again, an examination of the specific nutritional problems of the country could guide the selection of commodities to be included in the programmes.

41. Supplementary feeding schemes through health or community centres are currently in operation in some areas of some countries. They have the advantage of being generally well-targetted to certain vulnerable groups, but with the disadvantage of inadequate coverage. This is particularly so in the most depressed areas of countries where access to health services is most limited. A general expansion of supplementary feeding programmes should be considered, as well as re-orientation to include food items that would supply the needed micronutrients.

In those countries where

stabilisation measures are being implemented, supplementary feeding schemes can partially compensate for the potential negative effects of economic

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