Lucky are the people who never have to struggle with simple health related issues or if they have they can solve it with the medical facilities available in their vicinity. But health care is not that approachable facility for many in Cambodia.
But there are people who take “where there is a will there is a way” adage seriously and come up with a simple solution for the complex problem.
What is Anaemia?:
A condition when you have a deficiency of red blood cells than normal or less hemoglobin in each red blood cell.
What it does to the body?
It is associated with feeling of fatigue, paler complexion, lethargy, dry nails, short breath, impaired cognitive ability, and compromised physical development in children. It can turn fatal and even be the cause of the death.
The lack of iron in pregnant women (causes premature labour and child haemorrhage) and young children is even more dangerous. Anaemia affects around two billion people – a third of the world’s population which is caused by a poor diet lacking iron.
Solution- Get Lucky; yes! Get The Lucky Iron Fish
A joint effort of Cambodian and Canadian team, the simple cast iron ingots were developed in 2008 by Canadian health workers in Cambodia, and in 2012 a company, The Lucky Iron Fish Project, was formed to develop the smiling iron fish on a larger scale and stretch it to the rural and remote areas. They also distribute it to the local NGOs to help them promote the use of the lucky iron fish amongst the locals. In just one year, the project has received numerous awards and recognitions such as the “Commitment to Action Award” from the Clinton Global Initiative University and were named “1 of 5 innovations that will change the world” by MacLean’s magazine.
Lucky Iron Fish
The iron fish is a symbol for luck in Cambodia and is a safe, effective, and easy to use the supplement for iron deficiency. This was an initiative to provide Cambodian with an accessible, affordable and culturally correct method.
It is simply a piece of iron that one can use in the daily cooking that releases 75% of the daily required iron intake and is reusable for up to 5 years.
How to use it: All you need to do is –
- Clean the fish with water
- Put the fish in the boiling pot.
- Remove the fish after 10 minutes
- Put your ingredients, and Your iron rich food is ready.
For the best results, you can add lemon juice or any citrus juice. The fish is reusable for 5 years!
The stunning news is that within 9 months using the lucky iron fish there was a 50% decrease in the incidence of clinical iron deficiency anaemia, and an increase in users’ iron levels. Such a simple solution and such a fast result! Steadily the lucky iron fish is making a place in the heart of people and becoming the must-have ingredient in the cooking.
Health &Wealth:
The lucky iron fish is indeed a lucky one that is improving the health and wealth of the nation as everything from the fish to the packaging and creative tools are made with biodegradable and environment-friendly materials in partnership with social groups, NGOs and cooperatives. Also, there are arrangements to provide the fish to the people who cannot afford the fish.
