More Tea, Children?

Timur Toktonaliev reports from Talas, where the authorities have embarked on an ambitious campaign to advertise the benefits of iron and vitamin supplements.



Talas region has many cases of underdevelopment and anaemia among children, which experts say is often passed on from mothers. Between 50 and 65 per cent of women here have anaemia, doctors say.



They blame a poor, unvaried diet which includes a lot of tea-drinking, which they say contributes to the lack of iron among young children especially.



The official campaign combines appealing messages with a free distribution of food additive packs containing vitamins and iron for the under-threes.



Parents seem to have only a dim idea of the effects of poor nutrition, but appear to recognise the importance of health in general and have been taking up the offer of free vitamins.