Danone delivers anaemia screening tools to Bangkok health authorities

THAILAND – Danone Specialized Nutrition (Thailand) Co. Ltd. has officially delivered Iron Deficiency Anaemia (IDA) screening tools to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), to advance in the city’s health initiatives. 

The partnership seeks to enhance early detection of IDA among children, a crucial step in preventing the long-term health impacts of this condition, which can affect brain development and overall growth.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 24.9% of Thai children aged 6 to 59 months suffer from anaemia. 

Recognizing the serious risks associated with IDA, Danone is committed to improving public health through early detection and intervention. 

The company has provided screening tools capable of testing 3,000 children, which is particularly relevant given the rise in Bangkok’s birthrate from 82,169 births in 2022 to 85,582 in 2023. 

“Danone has long been committed to raising awareness and expanding IDA screenings,” Danish Rahman, General Manager of Southeast Asia and ISEA Lead at Danone SEA said.

“Providing these non-invasive screening tools to BMA is a crucial step in ensuring that children receive timely screening and intervention, helping to prevent both short- and long-term effects of IDA.” 

In addition, Duangporn Pinjeesekikul, Deputy Director of BMA’s Health Department, noted that the checks are essential for early detection and prevention, particularly in children. 

“Integrating these non-invasive IDA screening tools into our health check program is a proactive step towards safeguarding the health of our children and ensuring a healthier future for Bangkok’s community.”

Meanwhile, in addition to this recent initiative, Danone has earlier made strategic moves in its medical nutrition segment, by acquiring Functional Formularies, a U.S. whole foods tube-feeding business, from private-equity firm Swander Pace Capital. 

The acquisition aimed to enhance Danone’s specialized nutrition portfolio, which is critical for patients with specific medical needs, and complements its existing enteral tube-feeding products.

 “We are confident that with the addition of the greatly differentiated product portfolio of Functional Formularies, we are better positioned to support the nutritional needs of tube-fed families and patients,” Juergen Esser, Deputy CEO and CFO at Danone noted.

In 2023, Danone’s specialized nutrition segment generated US$9.1 billion, representing a 3.3% increase from the previous year. 

This growth reflected the company’s ongoing investment in medical nutrition, including €50 million expansion of a factory in Poland and a €15 million investment in Turkey for medical nutrition products. 

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