In Brief: Nearly half of Somali women, children have anaemia

Photo: IRIN A new report indicates almost half Somali women and children are suffering from shocking levels of anaemia and Vitamin A deficiencies (file photo)

NAIROBI, 7 May 2010 (IRIN) - Nearly half of all women and children in Somalia have anaemia and Vitamin A deficiency, a recent study indicates.



The study - conducted by the Food Security Nutrition Analysis Unit (FSNAU-Somalia) in conjunction with the UN Children's Fund, the World Health Organization, the World Food Programme and under the technical leadership of the Institute of Child Health, University of London - said: "Somali women and children are suffering from shocking levels of anaemia and Vitamin A deficiencies."



In a statement on 6 May FSNAU-Somalia said the study classified "50 percent of all women, 30 percent of all school-aged children and 60 percent of children under five as anaemic".



According to the study, anaemia in Somalia is caused by a range of factors, including frequent exposure to diseases, which are often untreated, and the consumption of predominantly cereal-based diets, which lack key vitamins and minerals.



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Source: IRIN • humanitarian news and analysis from Africa