The Iron Deficiency Project Advisory Service

The Iron Deficiency Project Advisory Service (IDPAS) is a project of the International Nutrition Foundation and the United Nations University (UNU). IDPAS is a service that disseminates and facilitates the exchange of documentation and technical information to support those working to improve iron nutrition in developing countries and countries in transition. There are currently users from over 130 countries.

IDPAS is based on a lifecycle approach to iron nutrition, with attention to the need for various types of intervention strategies to reduce the prevalence of iron deficiency across a population. The project provides technical information and timely responses to questions and requests for information. Covered topics range from how to effectively support advocacy for new micronutrient interventions to technical issues in research studies. It concentrates on iron interventions including food fortification, oral supplementation, education for dietary change, and public health interventions that can improve iron nutrition and prevent anemia. Every six to nine months, the current content of IDPAS Iron World is converted to Acrobat files, transferred onto a CDROM, and sent out to users with limited internet access.

IDPAS receives its primary support from the Micronutrient Initiative of Canada. UNICEF, WHO, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the International Nutrition Foundation, and the Gerald J. & Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University have provided additional support for project activities. All IDPAS services are free of charge to those working in this field from developing countries and to others who support them.

IDPAS is managed and maintained by part time professional consultants and research associates from the Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University. A network of experts and other organizations and projects assist with specific information requests.