More than half of children in the developing world suffer from iron deficiency anemia (IDA). Between the ages of 6-24 months when the brain is developing rapidly, IDA can result in irreversible loss of a child’s mental and physical potential. 

In industrialized nations, the iron needs of infants are met primarily through fortified infant cereals and foods. However, in developing countries, access to fortified foods are limited and the cost is often beyond the means of many families. Most infants are fed a home-prepared grain-based porridge as their primary complimentary food. 

PSI, in collaboration with the Sprinkles Global Health Initiative, is promoting the use of low-cost ‘Sprinkles,’ an iron and multivitamin supplement formulated especially for infants.  For only pennies a day, home-prepared porridges can be fortified to deliver the iron a child needs for healthy brain development, along with other essential vitamins and minerals. Sprinkles are recognized by WHO and UNICEF as an effective method of preventing and treating iron deficiency anemia in infants and young children.

For less than $2 dollars, an infant can receive the ‘sprinkles’  multivitamins needed to protect against IDA and enable a healthy start in the first 2 years of life.

In 2006, PSI launched sprinkles in Haiti and Pakistan, and to date have distributed more than two million sachets. In mid-2007, PSI-Botswana will become the 3rd social marketing program to promote this essential child health product.

Nearly 300 million people in developing countries, 50% of them school-age children, are severely ill due to worm (soil-transmitted helminthes) infections. These worm infections account for an estimated 12% of the total disease burden for school-age children 5–14 years. Anemia, vitamin A deficiency, stunted growth, cognitive impairment, liver and intestinal damage are all consequences of chronic worm infections. 

While prevention of worm infections will require dramatic improvements in health and sanitation infrastructure, de-worming treatments given twice a year are highly effective in reducing worm-infection rates and associated disease burden. De-worming sharply reduces anemia prevalence, improves nutrition and growth, and reduces school days lost to illness. Presumptive treatment is safe and is recommended by WHO, UNICEF, and the WFP for combating endemic worm infections present in many developing countries. Effective de-worming interventions would contribute to seven of the eight Millennium Development Goals. De-worming treatments are available in single-tablet treatments and cost $0.02 per treatment.

For $10 dollars, enough de-worming treatments can be supplied to protect 200 school-age children for one year.

In 2007, PSI will pilot its first de-worming treatment programs in Ethiopia and Swaziland.

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Sprinkles, such as Babyfer, are recognized by WHO and UNICEF as an effective method of preventing and treating iron deficiency anemia in infants and young children.

De-worming sharply reduces anemia prevalence, improves nutrition and growth, and reduces school days lost to illness.