Explain about the Micronutrient Deficiencies?
Micronutrient deficiencies are more common during calamities. Can you guess, why? This is due to the lack of diversified food items and non availability of fresh foods. All forms of vitamin and micronutrient deficiency diseases can be seen in an affected population if preventive measures have not been taken in time. These include iron deficiency anaemia, vitamin A deficiency blindness, beriberi, pellagra, oedema and goitre. There are several approaches for preventing the onset of micronutrient deficiencies in emergency situations' affecting large populations. These include:
- increasing the daily ration that will allow a surplus to be sold for other purposes like procuring fruits and vegetables,
- Varying the composition of food basket such as pulses, groundnuts, fresh fruits and vegetables and red palm oil. A better alternative is the local production of fruits and vegetables in home gardens,
- including micronutrient fortified foods in ration e.g. cerealslpulse blends, iodized salt, vitamin A enriched skim milk or vegetable oils, and
- Providing supplementation when there is likely to be a specific deficiency based on dietary assessment and overt signs and symptoms.
Another important aspect to be considered for the management of emergencies is monitoring assessment and surveillance of nutritional status and relief measures in emergencies. The next sub-section focuses on this aspect.