Talking points for U.S. Consul General, Deborah K. Jones at Micronutrient Forum Inaugural

Istanbul
May 12, 2007

Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul Hotel

Mr Deputy Minister; Mr. Chairman; Distinguished Representatives and Honored Guests:

• It is a great pleasure for me to join in offering, on behalf of the U.S. government, a warm welcome to everyone participating in the first Micronutrient Forum in this magnificent city of Istanbul.  I’m sure you will experience here Turkey’s extraordinary hospitality.  Many organizations and individuals worked to organize this meeting and we are grateful to them all. 
  
• In particular we are grateful to the Turkish Minister of Health for his Ministry’s tremendous support in planning and carrying out the meeting.   And our sincerest thanks to the local organizing committee who worked tirelessly as genuine partners with USAID to organize the meeting.
  
• We also thank the many other sponsors from the public and private sectors whose contributions made possible travel grants, translations, and many other components of the meeting.  
  
• The Micronutrient Forum represents an evolution of scientific research and country program efforts to control nutritional deficiencies in the world.  As a mother, I have always been aware of the importance of a balanced diet for children’s nutrition.  But I’ve now learned -- in connection with this forum --  about micronutrients, those miniscule amounts of iodine, Vitamin A, zinc and iron that serve as the “magic wands” which enable our bodies to produce enzymes, hormones and other substances essential for proper growth and development.  We are very proud that USAID has been involved in efforts to control and prevent micronutrient malnutrition for over 30 years.
• The Micronutrient Forum as the successor to the International Vitamin A Consultative Group (IVACG) and the International Nutritional Anemia Consultative Group (INACG) represents the increasing awareness of the biological and program interrelationships between micronutrients, and the fact that populations suffering from deficiencies in one will most certainly be deficient in others. 
• As the other speakers have noted, this transition acknowledges the need for a coordinated, multi-micronutrient approach for effective programs devoted to these critical public health needs.  In an era of stretched government budgets, leveraging precious human and financial resources is essential for the success of public health programs in today's world.
• As Dr. Cointinho has underscored, the purpose of the Forum is to draw attention to the public health impact of micronutrient malnutrition, to the scientific data linking these nutritional problems to child and maternal health and survival, and to programs that have successfully controlled micronutrient malnutrition in diverse settings.
• The Micronutrient Forum has become the primary opportunity for scientists, policy makers and program planners to exchange scientific and programmatic knowledge, and to establish concrete action plans to improve micronutrient programs.
  
• It is especially auspicious that the first meeting of the Micronutrient Forum is taking place in Turkey.  While classic micronutrient deficiencies are low in Turkey itself, the wider region does have substantial nutritional deficiencies and could learn from Turkish efforts to overcome their own nutritional problems. 
• Food fortification in particular is a major thrust for alleviating nutritional deficiencies and includes both public and private sector efforts.
• The Ministry of Health is actively working to reduce iron deficiency anemia and other vitamin and mineral deficiencies through wheat flour fortification and distribution of iron-folate supplements.  A vibrant salt iodization program sponsored by the Turkish Ministry of Health is improving the status of Iodine deficient populations.

• It is with great pleasure that I acknowledge the representation from over 60 countries at this Forum and your efforts in moving us to where we are today.  We encourage you to re-double your efforts—now with a multiple micronutrient focus—to implement sustainable delivery of Vitamin A and the critical minerals—iron, zinc, and iodine—to at-risk populations in Central Asia, the Middle East and around the world.  We all look forward to the positive outcomes of this first Micronutrient Forum.
   

In addition to USAID and the Ministry of Health of Turkey, the following organizations are sponsors of the Micronutrient Forum:

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation – a private foundation committed to improving public health worldwide.

GAIN – Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition – a private foundation with funding from The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, USAID and others that supports national food fortification efforts.

SIGHT AND LIFE – a private foundation supported by DSM, a vitamins and fine chemicals manufacturer.  SIGHT AND LIFE has been a long-time partner with USAID in calling attention to the need to address vitamin A deficiency and how to go about doing so.

The Micronutrient Initiative – a nongovernmental organization sponsored in large measure by the Canadian government with support also from USAID, the World Bank, UNICEF and others.  The Micronutrient Initiative has been a leader in promoting salt iodization, food fortification and vitamin A supplementation.

UNICEF – This UN agency has been a leader in distributing micronutrient capsules (iron and vitamin A) to at-risk populations worldwide and the primary leader in salt iodization.

Private sector partners – The following companies are financial sponsors of the meeting:

BASF, The Coca-Cola Company, Danone, H.J. Heinz Company, Kraft Foods R&D Inc., Mars Incorporated,  Monsanto Company, The Procter & Gamble Company and Unilever Food and Health Research Institute.

Other Speakers during the Inaugural Session

Minister of Health of Turkey: Dr. Recep Akday

Chairman of the Micronutrient Forum: Dr. Alfred Sommer

UNICEF: Dr. EdmondMcLoughney, UNICEF    Rep. for Turkey

FAO: Mr. Brian Thompson, Senior Nutrition Officer

WHO: Dr. Denise Coitinho, Director, Nutrition for  Health and Development

World Bank: Ms. Joy Phunphai (invited)