Southeast Asia

Countries with an IronUp! Presence

Malaysia
Laos
Thailand
Cambodia
Myanmar

Context and Key Challenges

Asia carries one of the highest global burdens of Iron Deficiency Anemia, with women of reproductive age, adolescent girls, and young children most affected. Across South and Southeast Asia, anemia remains a public health priority for women aged 15 to 49, pregnant women, and children under five.  Most parents and caregivers don't know much about IDA.

Iron is not always treated as its own priority and iron supplements are not always given out widely. In Malaysia, pregnant women typically don’t comply with the iron supplements they are given during the second trimester, and routine iron supplements for children after birth are not standard practice. 

As a result, progress in combatting IDA is uneven. Several countries have made meaningful gains through national supplementation programs, large-scale food fortification, and improved antenatal care, while others continue to face persistent barriers — limited dietary diversity, gaps in health system reach, gender inequities, and the dual burden of malnutrition. Climate pressure on food systems and rising costs of nutritious foods add new urgency to the agenda. 

Key Country-Level Statistics

30%-36%

Across Malaysia, Laos, and Thailand, recent government and Danone-supported data show that anaemia affects anywhere from about 30% of young children (Malaysia, Iron Strong Study) to more than 36% (Thailand, Pant Study 2022–2023).

47%

Malaysia's 2022 National Health and Morbidity Survey puts anemia among children at about 47%, with roughly one in three children under five having iron deficiency.

The IronUp! Program: Danone's Framework for Action

Iron Up! is the first global program of its kind that is set to positively impact the health of young children around the world at risk of or impacted by IDA.

Under IronUp!, Danone accelerates its decades-long effort across three foundational pillars of increasing awareness of IDA, partnerships to positively impact health and science-based, consumer-centric nutritional solutions. This is reflected in Danone's public commitment to deliver 14 million screenings between 2026 and 2030 and ambition that screening becomes routine for all children as part of effective IDA prevention.

Make – Partner – Serve is Danone’s strategic framework that guides the IronUp! Program.

Make

IDA top-of-mind for all key stakeholders

Partner

For systemic change

With superior, affordable, unique solutions

Serve

IronUp!’s Approach to Make Across Southeast Asia

Danone aims to close the gap between national paediatric guidelines and real-world practice by improving IDA awareness and its impact among moms and HCPs, driving early IDA screening, and educating on prevention solutions.

Although routine screening and iron intake are recommended, limited healthcare resources and low awareness mean moms are not aware and many children are still not reached. IronUp! focuses on scaling practical screening solutions and strengthening education to drive a measurable reduction in IDA among children under five.

How does IronUp! Make IDA Top-of-Mind for All Key Stakeholders?

Designs consumer awareness campaigns  
Conducts in-person screenings using non-invasive Hb devices and digital screenings with the Iron Risk Questionnaire
Trains HCPs on IDA
Runs IDA prevalance studies
Develops the SEA scientific consensus

IronUp!’s Approach to Partner Across Southeast Asia

IronUp! supports education and the development of scientific consensus on IDA, working in collaboration with governments and other stakeholders to reinforce national action.

IronUp! works to collaborate with key opinion leaders and policymakers to raise awareness of IDA, highlight the importance of early screening, and emphasize the role of nutrition in prevention and management.

How does IronUp! Partner with Local Authorities and Key Stakeholders for Systemic Change?

Collaborates with local governments and think tanks to organize a roundtable dialogue with Ministries of Health, Parliamentary Health Committees, NGOs, clinicians, and academics to develop and publicize an IDA white paper   
Develops screening and awareness partnerships with pediatric societies, national nutrition agencies, ministries of women, and family medicine specialists

IronUp!’s initiative aims to provide accessible, fortified products while contributing to broader efforts to raise public awareness and strengthen understanding of IDA and healthy dietary practices.

IronUp! also prioritizes large-scale screening of young children and improving caregiver awareness of iron needs, early feeding practices, and nutrition with the overall goal to support earlier identification of anemia risk and improve nutritional outcomes.

IronUp!’s Approach to Serve Across Southeast Asia

How does IronUp! Serve with superior, affordable, and unique solutions?

Develops and expands access to Dugro products fortified with Iron and Vitamin C for accessible, iron-rich solutions
Implements IronBiotics in Malaysia and Thailand by late 2026

Read More About IronUp!’s Work in Southeast Asia

From Invisible to Integrated: Embedding Iron Deficiency Screening into Routine Child Care in Laos

Read more
Building A Preventive Approach to IDA in Malaysia

Read more
Lucky Iron Life

read more