The Lucky Iron Fish

Iron deficiency is the most common and widespread nutritional disorder in the world. Iron deficiency anaemia is a nutritional deficiency that affects both developed and non-developed countries alike. Anaemic individuals are characterized by having a lower number of red blood cells and thus a lower ability to carry oxygen molecules to body cells and efficiently remove carbon dioxide molecules. Symptoms of iron-deficiency anaemia include fatigue, shortness of breath, cheat pain, and several other issues. Children with iron-deficiency will have cognitive and growth impairment. 

Globally, 76.1% of pre-school children, 69% of pregnant women, 73.5% of non-pregnant women, and 33% of school-aged children suffer from iron-deficiency. In developed worlds, such as the United States, this deficiency is very simple to treat. Physicians will prescribe diet modifications, supplements, iron injections, or in severe cases blood transfusions; all of which are achievable with our health infrastructure. However, in developing countries treating this deficiency isn’t that simple. Most developing countries lack the health infrastructure of developed countries, rural areas are unable to access health services, and if services exist they may be infrequent or unequipped to dealing with anaemia on a large scale.

One unique way of resolving iron deficiency was designed by a social entrepreneurship organization and implemented in Cambodia. This program was titled, “The Lucky Iron Fish Project,” and focuses on a simple intervention to drastically reduce the rates of anaemia in Cambodia; adding a chunk of iron, shaped like a fish, into all foods prepared as well as when sanitizing water.  The lucky Fish Project partners with NGOs in Cambodia to aid in delivery of the fish to needed households.

The Lucky Iron Fish Project reported that by cooking with the iron fish incidence of anaemia was halved and circulating and stored levels of iron in individuals were increased as well. Women who used the iron fish in cooking reported having a greater capacity to work, and the increase in iron levels were sustained until 9 months after invention. Households with children reported the same changes in children as well. Children who lived in households using the iron fish in meal preparation where less likely to be stunted, have impaired cognitive development, increase ability to concentrate, and more resistant to disease and infections.

An additional benefit of using the iron fish is that it can be made from recyclable metal, thus increasing the economic opportunities in Cambodia as well. The Lucky Fish Project can teach metals workers in Cambodia to make the iron fish. Additionally, with the reduction of iron deficiency, healthy workers are more likely to be productive and miss fewer days of work due to illness.

The idea of the iron fish to reduce iron deficiency in developing countries is simple and effective. The iron fish gives proof that health interventions don’t have to extravagant and costly to work. This project can then be used in other countries suffering with high rated of iron deficiency. In the process of reducing the rates of deficiency, the iron fish can also help spur the economy as well.