Address by Nutrition International's Director, Global Technical Services and Chief Technical Advisor Luz Maria De-Regil at FP2020 Summit
July 11, 2017
Partnering with UNFPA to integrate iron and folic acid into reproductive health services for women and adolescent girls in Senegal
2018 - 2021
Working with UNFPA, we're increasing knowledge and awareness of iron-folic acid supplementation and healthy diet among adolescent girls, women, and healthcare workers in Senegal.
The burden of iron deficiency
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
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.
Improving IFA consumption and nutrition knowledge
Folate/Folic Acid
Iron
Through capacity building of providers at all levels and behaviour change interventions targeting beneficiaries and their influencers, this project aims to:
Through a catalytic co-investment with UNFPA Senegal, Nutrition International, through Nutrition Leverage and Influence for Transformation (NLIFT), leverages and integrates nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions by utilizing:
The Impact
Reaching more adolescent girls and pregnant women
This partnership will allow us to integrate critical nutrition interventions and education for adolescent girls and pregnant women into UNFPA's existing platforms, helping to ensure women and girls have access to the nutrition and knowledge they need.