World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific

Micronutrient deficiencies

Micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) may be deficient in different situations. The most common and important deficiencies for the health of populations are:

WHO assists countries in the development and implementation of strategies and programmes for the elimination of micronutrient deficiencies.

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Fact sheets

No fact sheets available at this time.

News and press releases

No news/press releases available at this time.

Relevant publications and documents

Pacific Food Summit
A Pacific Food Summit was called for by Ministers attending the 7th Pacific Health Ministers meeting in 2007 in Vanuatu. The Ministers stated that a “whole of society approach” should be taken. Following this at the 2008 Pacific Island Forum Leaders Meeting in Niue, Pacific Leaders made food security a priority in the Pacific and in 2009 Ministers of Trade, Agriculture and Health endorsed the concept of a Pacific Food Summit at their respective regional meetings. Continuing the impetus, several Pacific countries held National Food Summits leading up to the Pacific Food Summit which was held at Le Lagon Resort, Port Vila, Vanuatu 21-23 April 2010.

UNICEF/WHO/FFI Meeting on Implementation in Asia of the Recommendations on Wheat Flour Fortification
Vitamin and mineral deficiencies affect not only the overall health of individuals, but also learning abilities, productivity, and overall social and economic development, therefore, constraining progress towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Food fortification in general, and flour fortification in particular, is one among several strategies that form a comprehensive and holistic approach to enhance nutrition and health by improving micronutrient status. Flour fortification has been implemented successfully and sustainably in several countries for more than 60 years; however, national standards for what micronutrients to add, which compounds are most effective, and how much to add vary widely. In April 2008, the Flour Fortification Initiative (FFI) and United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) organized an international meeting of nearly 100 leading nutrition, pharmaceutical and cereal scientists and milling experts from the public and private sectors to develop practical recommendations for flour fortification. Based on these findings, the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), Micronutrient Initiative (MI) and Flour Fortification Initiative (FFI) released an interim consensus statement on the recommendations of the wheat and maize flour fortification meeting report. These recommendations are commonly known as the WHO Recommendations on Wheat and Maize Flour Fortification.

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Upcoming meetings and events

No meeting/event planned at this time.



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