Even though a lot of Egyptians follow a practical and healthy diet, many others located in the rural areas suffer from micronutrient deficiencies where the people work on a very low budget. Cases of deficiencies are mostly located in Upper rather than Lower Egypt. And according to the OMNI organization there are three main deficiencies that haunt Egyptian people: Vitamin A Deficiency (VAD), Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) and Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD).
(OMNI 1)As studied by the OMNI organization, the most common deficiency, the Vitamin A Deficiency (VAD) is the main reason for blindness, vulnerability to a disease and loss of lives. After a lot of studies made by OMNI, it was found that most of the VAD was found amongst women and children. It was discovered that women intake only 30% of the required level of Vitamin A, and of 70 boys that were examined, 30% were found to have a deficiency in Vitamin A. (OMNI 1)Moreover, Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) is another major problem that faces the Egyptian population. IDA is the main reason for poor pregnancy, premature birth and even death. In 1980 a survey estimated that 20% to 40% of pregnant women have this deficiency.
However, later on in 1988 the Egyptian Children state reported 22% had this deficiency amongst pregnant women, 25 % among lactating women and 17% among non-pregnant women. Nevertheless, nowadays most of IDA is found amongst young children due to the lack of iron in pregnant and lactating women. (OMNI 2)And finally, Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) is also present amongst many Egyptians. IDD affects growth of body cells and greatly affects IQ. According to a national survey passed out in 1991, the struma rate was found to be 5.
2% of school children. Although this seems to be a small percentage, OMNI suspected that 3 million people may be suffering from IDD in Egypt. (OMNI 2)Case Study of Malnutrition in El Doweiqa-EgyptAs mentioned above, one of the main Deficiencies that affect Egyptian people is Iodine Deficiency Disorder (IDD); and this is the Deficiency that struck El Doweiqa in Egypt and caused many problems in that region according to a project made by an anonymous team. El Doweiqa, a settlement located near Mansheyet Nasser is in danger due to the major problems of IDD in that area. Part of this problem has to do with the salt the residents intake, which has no presence of Iodine and is made up from the dried constituents of the garbage and sewers.
Due to this, people at El- Doweiqa lack the required intakes of Iodine and are vulnerable to diseases like lead poisoning, cancers, problems in the kidney, heart attacks and even death. (Malnutrition (IDD in El Doweiqa) 1)In addition, IDD starts to take form in their lives causing symptoms that may lead to death. The Thyroid gland gets larger, a case called Goiter, due to the lack of required Iodine. Also, IQ levels drop, decreases learning capabilities, decreases thought, motion becomes slow, less work leading to mental retardation, a case called Cretinism causing people to depend on others for care and maneuver in life.
To the extreme, IDD could lead to reproductive failures and even death in that area. (Malnutrition (IDD in El Doweiqa) 1)Individual case studies that could lead to MalnutritionAccording to the Al-Ahram news report, a college student called Nour Saleh found ants in a coca cola bottle he bought. After checking other bottles, he found out that a whole colony had infiltrated the coca cola bottles; he kept the bottles to show the lack of health standards and extreme malnutrition in the country but he didn't fight the company that supplied the bottle of coca cola. Instead he claimed in a casual mood "If I had complained it would have gone nowhere."( El Noshokaty 1)Another example made by the same Al-Ahram News report was about a wife called Ghada Mohamed. She got a case of food poisoning after digesting a can of false beef and realized that she should check the expiration date on the can due to the untrustworthiness of the sellers.
When she was told to take action against the company, she remarked: "I have neither the time nor trust on the system. I know that my rights are non existent within the current system. I leave it to God." ( El Noshokaty 1)These two examples emphasize the failure of the system to solve problems of malnutrition, making the Egyptian population in desperate need for a solution.
