15 April 2021 17:28

Pregnant women in Azerbaijan will be supplied with folic acid and iron preparations

Within the framework of cooperation between the State Agency on Mandatory Health Insurance (Agency) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), 54 000 boxes of pills containing of iron and folic acid have been donated to Azerbaijan. The preparations, manufactured in the People's Republic of China, and donated by UNICEF, have been delivered to the Silk Road customs terminal in Baku. Tohfa Jamilova, Head of the Health and Nutrition Program of the UNICEF Representative Office in Azerbaijan and Ruslan Abdullayev, Head of the International Cooperation Division of the Agency, took part in  handover process of donation.

"During pregnancy, a mother's body needs a sufficient quantity of folic acid and iron for the health of a mother and the healthy formation of the fetus. Folic acid deficiency leads to defects in the formation of the nervous system of the fetus. Studies have shown that one in two pregnant women has iron deficiency anemia. Therefore, in international practice pregnant women are recommended to take iron and folic acid preparations." said T. Jamilova, UNICEF representative.

Ruslan Abdullayev, Head of the International Cooperation Division of the Agency, gave thanks for the donation, on behalf of the Agency's management. R.Abdullayev stated, that in accordance with the recommendations of UNICEF, the donated preparations will be distributed to healthcare facilities as soon as possible.

"Women in the first trimester of pregnancy will shortly be able to apply to the healthcare facilities supervised by TABIB and get these medicines for free. This will contribute to the prevention of disabilities among children and reduce the risk of mortality among mothers and newly-born babies. From next year, these medicines will be included in the Benefit Package of mandatory health insurance to prevent iron and folic acid deficiency during pregnancy. The decision shows that the protection of maternal and child health is a priority for the government of Azerbaijan," said R.Abdullayev.

It should be stated, that according to clinical protocols for antenatal care in Azerbaijan, folic acid and a prophylactic dose of iron should be prescribed for every pregnant woman.