Fortify Health's response to COVID-19 Fortify Health is working to ensure that the significant progress India has made in nutrition over the last few decades is continued, and not reversed, in light of the COVID-19 crisis. Nutrition interventions are more essential than ever; good nutrition builds immunity, prevents/reduces many long term health issues, and has life-long positive effects on cognitive development in children. If nutrition interventions fall through the cracks, experts believe there will be a secondary public health crisis after the immediate COVID-19 crisis.
To work towards preventing this, Fortify Health will continue to expand its core wheat flour fortification programme after lockdown, and when it is safe for our team to continue our operations. We will also scale up our engagement with state and district-level government in Maharashtra, to support them in reaching the most vulnerable populations with fortified wheat flour. Fortification is, and will continue to be, a highly effective way of getting essential micronutrients to large populations, including the most vulnerable and remote groups. It is important that institutions and NGOs keep on track with global developmental progress, whilst also reacting quickly to the spread of COVID-19. Given this urgent and ongoing need for adequate nutrition at population scale, Fortify Health will remain focused on its core intervention. We will also remain willingly flexible in the case that we identify additional, effective, related interventions. If we let nutrition and other public health interventions fall through the cracks, we will have a secondary public health crisis on our hands |
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