Ministry of Health of the Islamic Republic: Half of Iranian Women Over 50 Suffer from Bone Density Deficiency

Research by the Ministry of Health, Treatment, and Medical Education of the Islamic Republic indicates that about 47 percent of women over 50 in Iran suffer from bone density deficiency. According to World Health Organization statistics, calcium deficiency has put 40 percent of women and at least 10 percent of men at risk of osteoporosis. Studies in Iran also show that more than half of the population does not receive adequate calcium. The high statistics of Iranian women suffering from bone density deficiency occur in a context of inflation exceeding 40 percent in recent years and food inflation rising above 70 percent, which has reduced access to food and increased malnutrition, significantly impacting the lives and health of a large portion of the population. Additionally, statistics from the Ministry of Health indicate that 800,000 children in Iran are malnourished during their growth years, equivalent to 15 percent of Iranian children. Based on these statistics, about 11 percent of Iranian children face underweight issues, and nearly 10 percent struggle with thinness, with these figures nearly doubling in rural areas. The removal of the preferential exchange rate of 4200 tomans at the beginning of the year 1401 (2022) and the failure of the Islamic Republic's government institutions to anticipate and plan for the consequences of this decision are among the factors that have caused prices, including essential goods, to rise in Iran. This has led to limited access for many segments of society to household necessities due to decreased purchasing power. The head of the Labor Faction in Parliament stated: 'The tables are empty; the government should provide essential goods to workers.' A parliament member criticized the government for 'playing with numbers,' claiming the real inflation rate is 120 percent. When coupons are not a solution either, there is a gap of ten million tomans between wages and living costs. Another parliament member noted that no one can afford the 19 million toman installment for housing loans. Uncontrolled inflation; a parliament member stated: 'The government is unable to meet the basic needs of the people.'