Iron deficiency-related anemia remains a Public Health challenge in Burkina Faso with over 50% of women of reproductive age and pregnant women suffering from Anaemia. There is a persistent high burden of micronutrient deficiencies among women and girls due to general poor non-diverse and monotonous dietary practices coupled with other public health challenges.
Burkina Faso is among the 15 member countries of West Africa mandating fortification of key food vehicles to address micronutrient deficiencies. Despite ongoing efforts, the coverage of fortified food remains low, impeding progress in addressing the high burden of vitamin and mineral deficiencies. However, a recent training session conducted jointly by Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and BioAnalyt has brought new hope to improve compliance with mandatory fortification standards in Burkina Faso.