ON FOOD fORTI - DOH Central Library - Department of Health

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Let me provide some information
about the background of this meeting.
In November 1990, 71 world leaders and
over 120government representatives met
iTI. New York to discuss the broad social
agenda for children with a set of goals
.to be achieved by year 2000. The
Philippines was represented in the
meeting, the first meeting that ever took
place in New York with such a number
of leaders. One of the main points of
the discussion was this whole .issue of
micronutrient malnutrition in the world,
a problem that has been there for a very
long rune, whichcauses mentalretardation
and poor health, low productivity, a low
educational capacity of students,
blindness, prenatal death, and a whole
lot of problems.
On the basis of this World Summit
for Children,each countrywhichattended
the occasion developed its own plan of
action for children. The Philippines,
developed its own Philippines Plan of
A Report on Food Fortification
OPENING MESSAGE
Mr. KESHAB B. MATHEMA
Representative, UNICEF
Action for Children (PPAC), which was
launched by then President Aquino, and
later endorsed by President 'Fidel V.
Ramos, with a timetable to achieve all
those social goals, about 27 of them, by
2000. Then, the government of the
Philippines decided thatsomeof the goals
perhaps could be advanced and met by
the end of 1995. Among those goals are:
Universal lodization of Salt, Elimination
of Iodine Deficiency Disorders, Vitamin
A .and iron deficiencies.
-The economy cost of the deficiencies
is enormous, and the social cost is even
greater. We have here among us very
well-known experts in the subject, so I
will notdeal on the subject here. Professor
Glen Maberly who comes from Emory
University in Atlanta, heads the Program
Against Micronutrient Malnutrition, and
we have of course Dr. Florentino Solon,
Mrs. Ramos from the Department ot'
Health, andmanyotherswhocan provide
you with the needed information.
We are very pleased indeed to forge
this new alliance with our new partners,