FAO kicks-off FORTIMAS training to track food fortification

The European Union funded project, titled “improving food security and nutrition in The Gambia through Food Fortification” which is being implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, Monday commenced a-four-day training on Fortification Monitoring and Surveillance (FORTIMAS).

Fortification Monitoring and Surveillance (FORTIMAS), is an approach for tracking the population coverage and impact of a flour fortification program.

Food fortification project coordinator, Solange Heise said the project aims at improving food and nutrition security of vulnerable women and children in The Gambia.

She said it is necessary for Gambia to ensure that laws and regulations provide legal authority and adequate regulatory framework in order to undertake effective food fortification activities.

Madam Heise said, achieving food fortification programs full impact on health and development outcomes requires multidisciplinary approach.

Sanjally Trawally, deputy director of the directorate of Health Promotion and Education said mal-nutrition is a concern in The Gambia since women and children are facing lot of challenges.

He said they are not only looking at fortified food but also the benefits it has on people, saying food fortification is one way of improving the living standard of Gambian people.

Mr. Trawally said the FORTIMAS system will help countries to identify trends in the interim period, such as, whether maximum household coverage is reached and sustained in a given geographic area and whether the health status of those who regularly consume fortified food is improving.

The four-year project has planned for a project monitoring and evaluation system and situational analysis of the current food systems will provide clear recommendations on how food systems in The Gambia can be strengthened to help improve the micronutrient status of the population.