Free Folic Acid - Asda Initiative

Some of you may have already heard about this but I wanted to share with you all a press release I received about a great campaign.  Asda have a fabulous new initiative in connection with the charity Tommy's, providing women who are pregnant or trying to conceive free folic acid.  I think this initiative is brilliant especially as folic acid before and during pregnancy is very important.  If you are trying to conceive or are pregnant pop along to your nearest Asda Pharmacy from today and pick up the folic acid pack they are providing.  Whilst you are there you may as well get some great bargains from their baby and toddler event which also starts today.

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ASDA IS FIRST RETAILER TO OFFER FREE FOLIC ACID

Asda Pharmacy launches first of-its-kind initiative for pregnant women and mums-to-be

In an industry first, Asda Pharmacy today announces a pledge to make the essential vitamin, folic acid, accessible to all women free of charge if they are pregnant or trying to conceive.  From April 23, 2012 it will be handed out with a ‘Healthy Pregnancy Guide’ produced by the baby charity Tommy’s as part of the supermarket’s baby event.

Asda Pharmacy is championing the free folic acid giveaway as three in 10 women [*BBC Health News] do not take the supplement  because they are  unaware of its vital importance.  While some local Primary Care Trusts give pregnant women NHS Healthy Start Vitamins (containing Folic Acid) for free, it is inconsistent across the country. Asda Pharmacy wants to ensure the three month supply is free of charge for all women trying to conceive and during the early stages of pregnancy, regardless of their postcode.

Faisal Tuddy, deputy superintendant pharmacist at Asda said: “Asda Pharmacy puts customers’ needs first, and expectant mums are no different.  Folic Acid is an essential supplement required during pregnancy to reduce a number of risks including neural tube disorders in babies so we’re delighted to  be able announce this commitment to providing folic acid free of charge to those who need it.”

“Working in partnership with Tommy’s, we will continue to help provide support and advice for women trying for a baby, mums-to-be and new mums. Women can visit any Asda Pharmacy, at any time, for information or guidance on pregnancy starting from as early as the pre-conception stage  - and it costs nothing.”

A visit to Asda Pharmacy will also give women immediate access to a fully qualified health professional who can offer invaluable advice on health, diet and tips for sustaining a healthy pregnancy. Through the partnership with Tommy’s, Asda Pharmacy will be giving away, free of charge, the Tommy’s ‘Having a Healthy Pregnancy’ Guide, an indepth support book full of lifestyle advice on diet and nutrition, weight management, exercise, smoking cessation and general well-being to help women maximize their pregnancy health from planning through to birth. This pregnancy guide is currently the only extensive free expert-endorsed publication available to new mums and includes contributions from both medical and health professionals.

Dr Beckie Lang, Health Campaigns Manager at Tommy’s added: “We’re delighted to be supporting Asda Pharmacy’s Folic Acid initiative. At Tommy’s, we believe that every parent has the right to a sound pregnancy and healthy baby.  Our partnership with Asda allows expectant mums to pick up our guide ‘Having a healthy pregnancy’ in store for free, together with the Folic Acid.  We are hopeful that increasing access to these benefits will ultimately lead to fewer problems in pregnancy for women across the UK.”

Folic Acid Prices

Retailer	Folic Acid Price (400mg tablets)	Price per Tablet
ASDA	0 (90 tablets)	0
Tesco	£1 (120 tablets)	0.8p
Sainsbury’s	£1.03 (90 tablets)	1.1p
Boots	£5.99 (180 tablets)	3.3p
Superdrug	£3.49 (112 tablets)	3.1p
Holland and Barrett	£6.45 (250 tablets)	2.6p

About Folic Acid

Folic acid can reduce the risk of neural tube defects, such as Spina Bifida, in babies.  While some foods are good sources of folate, folic acid in it’s natural form, its not enough to give you the amounts you need during pregnancy.

From at least three months before trying to conceive, women should take a 400mcg supplement of folic acid a day. This dosage should be continued right through to the end of your first trimester (12 weeks). 

About Asda Pharmacy

Asda has 218 pharmacies around the UK with over 100 of those staying open until 11pm. Through their partnerships with national charities including Diabetes UK, the Blood Pressure Association and the British Heart Foundation, they offer a number of services for their shoppers including free diabetes testing, blood pressure ‘MOT’ tests and BMI checks.  Other services available from Asda Pharmacies include Not for Profit IVF, Not for Profit Cancer drugs, low priced medication for pets and anti-malaria medication available without a prescription.

About Tommy’s

Tommy’s believe every pregnancy should have a happy ending. Tommy’s want to give every baby the best chance of being born healthy, so work to fund medical research into the causes of premature birth, stillbirth and miscarriage, and provide a free information service that educates all parents-to-be about health in pregnancy. Tommy’s information service is informed by medical research and includes a telephone midwife service, a comprehensive website and free books and leaflets promoting health in pregnancy. By 2030 Tommy’s aim to halve the number of babies who die during pregnancy or birth.

Tommy’s registered charity number is 1060508 and SC039280.

Visit your local Asda Pharmacy or if you’re not sure where that is you can find details at the store locator on the Asda website.  Asda Pharmacy is availabile in 218 Asda stores.

The Asda baby event takes place in store and online from 23^rd April – 14^th May.

* I received nothing for posting about this initiative, I chose to post the press release as I think it is a great initiative and I wanted to show this campaign my support *