In collaboration with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and UNICEF, the Belize health ministry is conducting a national survey on micronutrient biomakers. The survey of volunteers will document anemia, red blood cell folate, retinol and B12 among females 15-49 years old and children 6 months to 4 years old, The Guardian reported March 31. Other partners are PAHO and WFP and the Statistical Institute of Belize.

"The objective of the survey is to improve the prevention of infant and maternal mortality and other diseases such as spina bifida and other birth defects. In total, the survey will include approximately 1,912 adults and children from across the country. Trained interviewers properly identified with an ID card issued by the MOH will visit people in their homes to ask questions about topics related to nutrition, basic demographic data, and use of health services. After completing the household interview, eligible participants will be invited to take part in the biomedical component of the survey.

"Biomedical data will enable prevalence rates of micronutrient deficiencies and associated risk factors to be estimated and analyzed. It will also enable policy decision making and it will measure the impact of existing nutrition related interventions."