GOVERNMENT OF TANZANIA AND GLOBAL HEALTH LEADERS TO HOST FIRST EVER SUMMIT ON FOOD FORTIFICATION
Global leaders convene to end ‘hidden hunger’– an epidemic that afflicts two billion worldwide
Who: The Government of the United Republic of Tanzania will join the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) and other partners including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), UNICEF, USAID, World Food Programme (WFP) and World Health Organization (WHO), to host the first Future Fortified Summit on 9-11 September, 2015 in Arusha, Tanzania.
What: This first-of-its kind summit will convene global health leaders and policy makers to address hidden hunger, or a lack of access to micronutrients, and forge a vision and strategy for food fortification as a key pillar in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and beyond. The summit will convene global leaders to reinvigorate interest, awareness and investment in food fortification to end the global epidemic of hidden hunger. The summit aims to cement support for food fortification ahead of the Sustainable Development Goals review later this month. Featured speakers include:
- Seif Seleman Rashid, Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Republic of Tanzania
- Chris Elias, President, Global Development Program, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
- Francesco Branca, Director of the Department of Nutrition for Health and Development at the World Health Organization (WHO)
- Shawn Baker, Director, Nutrition, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
- Martin Bloem, Chief Nutrition and HIV/AIDS Policy, UN World Food Programme (WFP)
- Vinita Bali, Chairman of Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)
Why: More than 2 billion people worldwide suffer from hidden hunger, which reduces cognitive development, increases maternal and infant mortality and impacts economic productivity, undermining efforts to end global poverty. Food fortification is a simple, scalable and cost-effective solution that has proven to be effective at eliminating the effects of hidden hunger.
Where: Naura Springs Hotel in Arusha, Tanzania.
When: September 9 – 11, 2015.
Contact:
Jeremy Sprigge
+44 (0)7867 475 640
jsprigge@gainhealth.org
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ABOUT GAIN
The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is an international organization that was launched at the UN in 2002 to tackle the human suffering caused by malnutrition. We act as a catalyst — building alliances between governments, business and civil society — to find and deliver solutions to the complex problem of malnutrition. Our work to fortify staple foods and condiments with essential micronutrients reaches more than 30 countries and 892 million people worldwide. Today we are on track to reach over a billion people with improved nutrition by the end of 2015. By building alliances that deliver impact at scale, we believe that we can eliminate malnutrition within our lifetimes. For more information, visit www.gainhealth.org or follow GAIN on Twitter @GAINAlliance
