CISA - the Health Research Centre of Angola made its contribution to the “Micronutrient Forum Global Conference 2014 - Bridging Discovery and Delivery”, which took place between June 2nd and 6th in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The conference was held by the “Micronutrient Forum”, with support from the “Micronutrient Initiative”, and brought together around 1.000 participants from 65 different countries to discuss and debate various themes interrelated with combating micronutrient deficiencies, the “hidden hunger”.

The core conference idea revolves around the need to interconnect the scientific findings and evidence to the implementation of nutritional based interventions. This involved discussion about the risks and benefits to food based interventions, to supplements and fortifying additives. The importance of these interventions designed to combat micronutrient deficiencies was clearly demonstrated alongside the clear need to carry out more clinical trials so as to better ascertain the advantages to some of these interventions.

The importance of interventions integrated into programs tackling infections and hygiene related issues, sanitation and clean drinking water were also duly highlighted. CISA presented a study on the positive impacts resulting from the mass treatment of helminthiasis and schistosomiasis in children, including higher hemoglobin levels and the consequent reduction in anemia.