Sprinkles of support for Global Child Health
Did you know that up to 750 million children in developing countries suffer from iron deficiency? Unlike children in developed countries, who benefit from vitamins and minerals being added to foods, those living in developing countries experience a deficiency of vitamins and minerals (also known as micronutrients).
Challenged by UNICEF to come up with a viable and reproducible solution to the problem of micronutrient malnutrition, Dr. Stanley Zlotkin, Chief of Global Child Health at SickKids, and his research team developed a solution called Sprinkles. Sprinkles, a micronutrient powder made from copper, iron, zinc and other mineral substances, enables food to be fortified in the home. Packaged in small, single serve sachets, parents simply pepper Sprinkles into whatever dish they are preparing for their child. Easy to use and inexpensive to produce, Sprinkles has already helped prevent and treat iron deficiency in more than 15 million children globally.
“Good nutrition equips the bodies of young children to grow and develop to their full potential including more effective learning at school and greater productivity as an adult,” says Dr. Zlotkin.
Mineral nutrition is one of the world’s most pressing health problems
Recently, thanks to the funding support of Mining4Life, Dr. Zlotkin was awarded the inaugural Mining4Life Chair in Mineral Nutrition at SickKids.
“As Mining4Life Chair, I will be examining the best combination of minerals and vitamins to reduce stunted growth and I will be looking at ways to expand the implementation and distribution of Sprinkles in countries where mineral deficiencies are most serious.”
Mining4Life is an industry-wide initiative backed by dozens of global mining companies to help create and support sustainable health care and education solutions for children in need around the world. They have been a major supporter of Sprinkles.
“Mineral nutrition is one of the world’s most pressing health problems, impacting hundreds of millions of children in developing countries,” says Aaron Regent, Co-Chair, Mining4Life. “Adding essential minerals to the diet of young children who are not getting the nutrients they require can make an enormous difference to their long term health and success in life.”
