Concern over the staggering levels of iron deficiencies among children in Fiji.

The country's Ministry of Health has revealed 80 percent of children under the age of two suffer from anaemia - and 60 percent of under-fives.

Paediatrician Dr David Newman told Mike Hosking sadly the issue was first raised back in 1994 in the New Zealand Medical Journal.

He says it isn't necessarily about access to iron-rich foods - it's about knowledge.

"Poverty unfortunately both in this country and elsewhere your choices for energy intake tend to be high energy low food value products that are cheap."

LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH MIKE HOSKING ABOVE