Iron deficiency anemia is a vast epidemiologic problem evidenced by health public spending, the social consequences of increased risk in pregnancy, low production, and also by long term consequences of cognitive development. Some points in time highlight the involvement of the Brazilian government: 1977 - 1st Health Minister Meeting (INAN), with international and national specialists to discuss perspectives and interventions to control anemia; 1982/83 - distribution of iron supplement to Pregnancy Programs and 1st consultation to measure hemoglobin concentration; 1992 - Brazilian government commitment to reduce the prevalence of anemia in pregnant women by 1/3; 1994 - Implementation of the "Vivaleite" Program to provide iron fortified milk to families with under 6-year-old children and incomes of up to 2 minimum wages; June 2002-2004 - wheat and corn flour fortification with iron; 2005 - Iron supplementation program to breastfeeding women; March 2009 - Reports published on the prevalence of anemia in women (15 to 49 years old) and children (6 to 59 months) in Brazil. August 2009 - the 1st Inter-institutional Commission Meeting for the Implementation, accompaniment and monitoring of fortification policies of wheat and corn flour and their "subproducts" was established by the Health Minister.
Public Policies; iron deficiency; anemia; nutrition, Public Health
