What we doFortify Health addresses the issue of iron deficiency anaemia, B12 deficiency and neural tube defects in Maharashtra and West Bengal, India. We aim to prevent and reduce these conditions by fortifying wheat flour with iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid. Based on external evidence and internal research, we prioritise micronutrient deficiency as a significant public health issue that can be addressed cost-effectively: through fortification of staple foods.
Our organisational strategy is driven by the values of effective altruism, with the aim of achieving the highest possible impact on public health through rigorous evidence, and cost-effective intervention. Fortify Health has received two GiveWell Incubation Grants totalling $1.3 million to scale up fortification and provide ongoing technical support in our focus states; our operations extend to the open market and government safety net schemes. |
How we started upFortify Health’s founding team received initial funding from Charity Science, with the aim to set up an iron and folic acid fortification initiative that may eventually meet GiveWell’s rigorous standards for the most effective charities.
The first phase involved setting up operational systems, reading literature on supplementation and fortification, developing a knowledge base, talking to fortification experts, pinpointing several potential approaches, and selecting a project location. In May 2018, we received our first GiveWell Incubation Grant to work on wheat flour fortification in Maharashtra and West Bengal, India. The second phase involved hiring our first team, developing key partnerships, and implementing fortification. We are currently expanding our operations to further mills in Maharashtra and West Bengal, as well as providing technical support on fortification. At present, we are scaling up implementation. |
Mentorship |
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Throughout the startup process, we received strong mentorship from Joey Savoie, CEO and Co-founder of Charity Science: Health, an India-based organisation working on SMS vaccine reminders. He is currently CEO of Charity Entrepreneurship, where he supports the set-up of NGOs that will implement evidence-based, effective and cost-effective interventions.
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