Malaysia must urgently shift from awareness to early detection and intervention regarding childhood Iron Deficiency Anaemia (IDA), with policymakers, healthcare professionals, and researchers advocating for mandatory non-invasive screening.
This call was made during the Arena Generasi Kuat Zat Besi event, part of Dumex Dugro’s Iron Strong Generation initiative. Addressing a silent health issue affecting 1 in 3 Malaysian children, experts highlighted that IDA, often without visible symptoms, can severely impact brain development, learning, and growth, with consequences extending beyond individual health.
Against this backdrop, the event also saw the unveiling of national men’s double shuttler Nur Izzuddin Rumsani as Dumex Dugro’s brand ambassador. A Dumex Dugro child since 1999, Izzuddin said that he would be lending his voice to raise awareness among Malaysian families. “When I found out about the impact of IDA on brain development, it really opened my eyes as a father. What stood out to me about Dumex Dugro’s Iron Strong Generation initiative is that they are going beyond awareness by making screening more accessible and helping parents understand this issue. That’s why I’m proud to be part of this mission, to encourage more families to take that first step, because early action can make a big difference in our children’s future.”
Beyond awareness, the discussion moved to the national scale and urgency of the issue. The panel at the event “Iron Strong Kids, Stronger Economy – Protecting Malaysia’s Future Workforce & Productivity” emphasized the need for systemic intervention.
Muhammad Daniel Kittu, Senior Researcher at the Social and Economic Research Initiative (SERI), explained the broader economic implications of IDA. “When you scale the issue across our population, productivity losses linked to childhood IDA could be costing Malaysia approximately RM10.8 billion, or 0.6% of GDP annually, based on 2022’s numbers applying a conservative assumption. This underscores its implications on the country’s long-term economic competitiveness, but it also suggests a significant generational investment opportunity that Malaysia is missing out on when we do not address IDA.”
Building on that, YB Yeo Bee Yin, Member of Parliament for Puchong and Chairperson of the Parliamentary Special Select Committee on Women, Children and Community Development, shared that this figure should inform national budget conversations, and that the government should prioritise healthcare policies to address IDA early. “The way I see it, investment in mandatory non-invasive IDA screening for children is one of the highest-return interventions in public health. Every child deserves the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential. They will one day be contributing to our nation’s workforce and development.”
From a medical perspective, Dr Sri Wahyu Taher, Consultant Family Medicine Specialist, emphasised the challenges in detecting the condition. “Around 90% of children with IDA show no clear symptoms. By the time signs appear, the deficiency may already be more advanced, and in many cases, the signs are non-specific such as tiredness, poor appetite, slower development and occasional pale skin. This is why early, routine screening is so critical. It is equally important to devise nutritional strategies for our children when curbing IDA.”
Meanwhile, Angie Low, Medical & Nutritional Science Director, Danone Southeast Asia, highlighted the scientific findings on IDA. “90% of the child’s brain develops by age 5. Evidence shows that IDA can have long-lasting and potentially irreversible effects on brain development if not addressed early. Children without IDA have been shown to score, on average, up to 13 IQ points higher than those with iron deficiency. Our latest findings also show that adequate iron supports about 2.5X stronger thinking and learning.”ok
Yee Pek Kuan, Marketing Director, Danone Malaysia & Singapore, said “Over the past four years, our focus has been on closing the gap between awareness and action by investing in science-backed solutions, scaling access to screening, and making IDA easier for parents to act on. What today’s discussion shows is that this cannot be driven by one organization alone. When industry, policymakers, healthcare professionals, researchers, media, and parents move in the same direction, that’s when real progress becomes possible. We will keep building that bridge, turning science into accessible solutions and reaching families earlier, while partnerships with icons like Izzuddin help us connect more meaningfully with Malaysians.”
Arena Generasi Kuat Besi diadakan bekerja sama dengan Lotus’s di IOI City Mall Putrajaya hingga 21 Juni. Di acara ini, keluarga dengan anak-anak dapat melakukan pemeriksaan gratis untuk anemia defisiensi besi (IDA), penilaian pertumbuhan, serta menikmati permainan dan aktivitas menarik. Terdapat juga promosi eksklusif untuk produk Dumex Dugro. Setelah itu, gerakan Iron Strong Generation akan melanjutkan dengan lima acara jalanan di beberapa toko Lotus’s di seluruh negeri dari Juli hingga November 2026.
Get your child screened for IDA at the Dumex Dugro website today – https://www.dugro.com.my/en/ida/ironscreening.html