Nutrient Gap Initiative: Bayer program to tackle malnourishment in 50 million people annually

17 Feb 2021 --- Bayer is launching the “Nutrient Gap Initiative,” a program aimed at providing vitamins and minerals to 50 million people in underserved communities around the world, each year by 2030.

The initiative is as part of Bayer’s “Health for All, Hunger for None” vision, which has seen several projects launched in recent years.

The Nutrient Gap Initiative will run through direct action in partnership with critical non-governmental organizations (NGOs) focusing on intervention, education, and advocacy, says Bayer. 

It is also the first program that will impact Bayer’s commitment to the UN’s sustainable development goals, including zero hunger, good health and well-being. 

“Often called the ‘silent pandemic,’ micronutrient deficiencies are a major public health problem in underserved communities, with women and children being particularly vulnerable given increased nutrient demands during pregnancy,”  Daniella Foster, global vice president and head of public affairs, science and sustainability at Bayer, tells NutritionInsight. 

“Malnutrition contributes to almost half of child deaths under age five. Among undernourished children who survive, more than 25 percent suffer from stunted growth, and impaired neurological development and learning.”

“Having a healthy baby is a concern for every parent and parent-to-be around the world. Through The Nutrient Gap Initiative, we plan on creating programs that will help give babies the best start in life today and for generations to come.”

Researchers found pregnant women to have low levels of magnesium, vitamin D, E and iron.Focus on pregnancy 
The company’s work will begin with a focus on pregnant women and babies, given they are among the most vulnerable and need even more support due to the impact of COVID-19. 

Last year, Bayer launched Mission 1000+, a campaign to raise awareness of the importance of nutrition in child development. 

Preventing vitamin and mineral deficiencies early in pregnancy can help mitigate poor pregnancy outcomes. Notably, stunted growth and impaired neurological development, which lead to long-term health and economic consequences for individuals and societies, says the company.

“We’re putting a lot of emphasis on health education within this program. Nutritional education is critical and it’s one of the most neglected aspects of maternal and child health and well-being. If health systems lack the capacity to provide quality education and behavior change counseling strategies, then vitamin donations alone will not be successful at creating long-term, systematic change,” says Foster. 

Previously, a study from Perdue University found that 95 percent of pregnant women do not consume enough vitamins. 

Nutrition intervention 
Bayer’s first point of intervention to alleviate these problems will be to develop a nutrition education curriculum with Vitamin Angels, a US-based charity specializing in providing vitamin supplements to malnourished women and children. Bayer's Elevit line of vitamin supplements will be used to promote healthy nutrition during and after pregnancy.

Bayer will also be joining other partners to empower healthcare professionals and pregnant women in underserved communities, it says. This program will effectively introduce and scale Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation MMS for pregnant women.

MMS is a formulation of essential vitamins and minerals that women need to help ensure their health, a healthy pregnancy, and a healthy baby. 

Programs will be implemented to ensure high adherence and acceptance by populations and encourage prenatal intervention inclusion into regular local antenatal health services. 

Interventions will begin in Indonesia, Mexico, the US and Vietnam and will roll-out to other countries in the years ahead.

Spotlight on Elevit 
Bayer uses the program to draw attention to its prenatal brand Elevit, which has its campaign titled “Every Beginning,” aimed at building global awareness for prenatal nutrition deficiency and helping parents and parents-to-be connect. 

The company will also be advancing support for women and girls in controlling their healthcare in partnership with the White Ribbon Alliance – an organization dedicated to advancing women’s welfare worldwide. 

Bayer is working with NGOs across various sectors to launch a cross-industry collaboration to support the global movement around maternal health and further the Nutrient Gap Initiative’s aims. 

The goal is to drive collective action and scale access to MMS. Currently, only 70 percent of low- and middle-income communities have access to iron-folic acid (IFA) during pregnancy, which is no longer considered sufficient, based on recent World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.

Edited

By Louis Gore-Langton