Address by Nutrition International's Director, Global Technical Services and Chief Technical Advisor Luz Maria De-Regil at FP2020 Summit
July 11, 2017
Iron deficiency is a common cause of anaemia during pregnancy and a major cause of perinatal and maternal mortality and morbidity.
Malnutrition before and during pregnancy can lead to low birthweight babies, stunting, and increased risk of death for both mother and newborn.
Low birthweight is the leading cause of infant death in the first week of life, while those who survive often suffer from a range of health issues.
Adolescent girls who become pregnant are extremely vulnerable to developing anaemia, as it is difficult to meet their own nutritional needs in addition to the nutritional needs of their growing baby.
Rates of anaemia in Senegal
- 57% of adolescent girls are anaemic
- 54% of women are anaemic
Women and adolescent girls, especially out-of-school girls in remote and hard-to-reach regions, are the most vulnerable and least served by nutrition interventions.
UNFPA Senegal supports family planning programming that targets vulnerable populations, including hard-to-reach adolescent girls and women. We have an opportunity to expand intake and demand for nutrition interventions by leveraging the UNFPA program.