today. It impacts the lives of millions of women and children contributing to poor cognitive development, increased maternal mortality and decreased work capacity. Yet with appropriate public health action, this form of micronutrient malnutrition can be brought under control. These guidelines are offered as an important component of iron deficiency anemia control programs. The International Nutritional Anemia Consultative Group (INACG) has a long standing commitment to provide scientifically sound recommendations to public health planners and managers about ways to control iron deficiency anemia. This publication is another in a series of publications aimed at providing such guidance. While the main focus of these guidelines is on iron supplementation programs and parasite control, these guidelines acknowledge the beneficial role food fortification and dietary diversification can have in controlling iron deficiency anemia. Further information on these approaches can be found in other INACG documents as well as those of other organizations. It is hoped that these guidelines, which reflect our current state of knowledge, will be useful to those charged with planning and implementing iron supplementation programs. Please feel free to send your comments regarding these guidelines, so that they might be improved at a future date.