Special event on August 22, 2021 at Chinmaya Nikunj, Mangere, South Auckland
Venkat Raman
Auckland, August 11, 2021
Auckland Tamil Association (ATA) will join a handful of organisations to observe the ‘World Iron Awareness Week,’ to reinstate the importance of nutrition and balanced diet that will augment human health and promote social and community wellness.
Titled, ‘Wahine’ (meaning woman in Maori),’ and ‘Iron Shakti Plus,’ the event will be launched at a special programme scheduled to be held on Sunday, August 22, 2021 from 11 am to 2 pm at the newly opened ‘Chinmaya Wellness Centre’ located at 63 McKenzie Road, Mangere Bridge, Auckland.
Among the organisations promoting awareness on Iron Deficiency are New Zealand Blood, New Zealand Nutrition Foundation, Nutrition Society of New Zealand, Dietitians New Zealand, Massey University, Toi Tangata, The Asian Network Inc, Sprout, The New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology, SportsLab, Wahine, vegetables.co.nz, NZ Venison, NZ Pork and Beef + Lamb New Zealand.
Those interested can follow this link to register: https://www.ironweek.co.nz/iron-quiz
Adult Nutrition Survey
ATA President Vai Ravindran said that the forthcoming event will help members of the Association understand the importance of nutrition and the need to follow a balanced diet.
“The New Zealand Adult Nutrition Survey revealed that Iron Deficiency has more than doubled in the past 12 years, with low iron levels evident in one in 14 adult women over 15 years old. Further, eight out of 10 toddlers are not meeting the recommended daily intake of dietary iron and 14% of children under two years of age are deficient,” he said.
According to Nutrition and Health Ministry sources, among those affected by low levels of iron are young children, teenage girls and women. These facts are being studied against the world average of 30%. That is, almost a third of the population suffer from this deficiency.
The World Iron Awareness Week 2021 focuses on babies and toddlers.
Although Iron Deficiency is a major problem, most countries are currently concentrating on their Covid-19 Vaccination Programme and controlling the spread of the pandemic.
Mallika Janakiraman, a Nutritionist and Founder of Wahine and a member of ATA said that one in 14 women in New Zealand suffer from Iron Deficiency, while in India, the occurrence is very high- affecting one in two women.
“The need to increase awareness therefore acquires greater importance among the members of the Indian community in New Zealand. Wahine is an intensive programme with a series of events including interactive sessions, competitions and engagements involving our women. Wahine is being held under the ATA banner,” she said.
Harmful effects of Iron Deficiency
However, the importance of increasing awareness on the harmful effects of Iron Deficiency and the damage it can cause to public health cannot be over-emphasised.
World Iron Awareness Week encourages people, especially those at risk, to examine the implications of going short on dietary iron, and the dietary choices to boost iron levels.
A UNICEF-WHO Regional Consultation Report on Prevention and Control of Iron Deficiency Anaemia in Women and Children published in 2019 said that Iron Deficiency among vulnerable population groups has been out of balance with prevalence, seriousness, and consequences of this public health problem.
“Nearly 25% of the world population suffers from the consequences of Iron Deficiency Anaemia. Unless population improve their dietary intake, consume iron fortified food, or take iron supplements regularly, they will be found iron deficient. Iron Deficiency has a high economic cost by adding to the burden on health system, affecting learning in school and reducing adult productivity,” it said.
Global problem
The World Bank, World Health Organisation and Harvard University have listed Iron Deficiency Anaemia as the most expensive disease except tuberculosis.
But the Report said that Iron Deficiency Anaemia can be prevented at low cost.
“Economic analysis supports the political commitment made by the Heads of States at the World Summit for Children in 1990 and at the International Conference on Nutrition in Rome in 1992 in which there was a consensus to implement national actions to reduce micronutrient
deficiencies. Since then, and despite promising new interventions trials, little progress has been made towards the reduction of Iron Deficiency Anaemia,” it said.
About Iron Deficiency
Iron deficiency is not necessarily the consequence of low intake but can also be the result of various medical conditions (from chronic renal failure to coeliac disease, gastrointestinal blood loss) and excess intake of zinc which hinders iron absorption).
While Iron Deficiency Anaemia is a serious problem in the developing world perpetrated by the limited food supply, it is common in obese women who follow restricted calorie diets to lose weight in Western countries.
There are two types of iron in food: Haem and Non-Haem Iron (aka Heme And Non-Heme iron). In animal products, 40% of the total iron content is haem iron and 60% is non-haem iron. Haem iron has higher absorption rates (around 10-25%). Plant foods contain only non-haem iron and its absorption rate (can vary from 1% to 23%) will depend on the body’s need for iron. Hence, people with low iron stores will absorb more and excrete less Non-Haem iron.
Iron is a mineral essential for good health and wellbeing. It helps carry oxygen to the brain and muscles, keeping us physically and mentally strong and able to make energy and fight infections. Every cell in the body needs iron. There are certain instances when iron is particularly important. People who have higher iron needs include Infants, children and teenagers because they are growing rapidly.
