Rwanda’s national fortification program hit a significant milestone this week. The Director General of the Rwanda Bureau of Standards, Mark Cyubahiro Bagabe, expressed optimism that food fortification will not only improve the nutritional value of staple products, but also offer a competitive edge both regionally and internationally. “We are always looking at taking quality products to the market and this is why we always ensure quality and standards of our products….When foods are fortified it means that the nutritional value of foods are improved and people can have essential micronutrients to reduce micronutrient deficiency, which is still a challenge.”
If implemented properly and monitored closely, it is anticipated that the fortification program in Rwanda could have the potential to increase adult productivity by 30%, reduce childhood anemia and iodine deficiency by 20%, reduce maternal mortality by 30%, and reduce neural tube defects and vitamin A deficiency by 30%.
With support from Project Healthy Children (PHC), and in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Bureau of Standards, a fortification monitoring training program was held from 29 April to 6 May. Inspectors from local industry, Rwanda’s Bureau of Standards, and the Ministry of Health were trained by PHC and an expert in quality assurance and quality control of fortified products.
The goal of the training was to ensure inspectors were equip with the know-how to ensure, first, that the food on the market meets Rwanda’s national fortification standards in order to have an impact on the nutritional status of the population, and second, how to identify and address evidence that the program is faltering so that improvements can be made in a timely manner. Participants were trained on internal and external monitoring of fortified foods, proper sampling techniques, effective and affordable qualitative and quantitative testing methods, and data handling and management. Field trips to local markets and a flour mill allowed inspectors hands-on experience in sampling and testing techniques.
Strong leadership will be required from the Ministry of Health and the Bureau of Standards in the coming months to ensure all local producers and importers understand and comply with the new fortification standards and to ensure fortification is legislated as a mandatory program to allow a level playing field for all producers. PHC will continue to provide industry support while working with the Government on consumer awareness campaigns including awareness around the national fortification logo that will appear on all fortified products.
More information about the training can be found in this East African Business Week article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201305071187.html