Almost 500 pregnant women from in and around Phnom Penh met with health officials yesterday to glean advice on the impact of iron in their pre-natal diet.

The meeting marked the end of a government-funded study that provided the women with iron, a crucial nutrient many Cambodians failed to take, health official Hem Sokhon said.

“If the mother does not use it, the baby faces the chance of death during pregnancy and a 20 per cent chance of disability,” he said.

Long Vanrun, 32, said she had benefited from the iron she had taken.

“I want to see my baby healthy. I want to give my baby a good future,” she said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Sen David at [email protected]