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.
