Anemia is a widespread public health problem associated with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality, especially in pregnant women and young children. It is a disease with multiple causes, both nutritional (vitamin and mineral deficiencies) and non-nutritional (infection) that frequently co-occur. It is assumed that one of the most common contributing factors is iron deficiency, and anemia resulting from iron deficiency is considered to be one of the top ten contributors to the global burden of disease.

– Global prevalence of anemia in preschool aged children is
    47.4%.
– Global prevalence of anemia in pregnant women is 41.8%.
– Global prevalence of anemia in non-pregnant women is
    30.2%.
– Globally 818 million women (both pregnant and non-
   pregnant) and young children suffer from anemia and
   over half of these, approximately 520 million, live in Asia.
– The highest prevalence for all 3 groups is in Africa, but the
   greatest number of people affected are in Asia.
– In Asia 58% of preschool aged children, 56.1%  of pregnant'
   women and 68% of non-pregnant  women are anemic.


At a special session of the BioVision 2007 conference in Lyon, SIGHT AND LIFE presented to UNICEF and WFP the book entitled "Nutritional Anemia". The book aims to help fight the devasting health burden of nutritional anemia throughout the world. The editors worked with leading scientists from academia and Untited Nations agencies in compiling the latest research. The "Guidebook Nutritional Anemia" followed soon after.

In November 2007, SIGHT AND LIFE organized the "1st Nutritional Anemia Action Day" at the DSM site Kaiseraugst, Switzerland. A documentary film shows a summary on the event.