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Good progress but more collaboration needed for vitamin A supplementation
Vitamin A is indispensable for the health of one’s eyes and immune system. Children in developing countries have difficulty accessing sources of vitamin A, which we normally obtain from milk, liver, eggs, fruits and other green vegetables, due to their economic and social circumstances.
If children are not able to gain their necessary daily dose of vitamin A, it can lead to various eye diseases, such as night blindness and illnesses, due to a lowered immune system.
Based on recent statistics from the World Health Organization, an estimated 190 million preschool-age children have vitamin A deficiency.
It is recommended that those in countries with evidence of this public health problem should receive vitamin A supplementation every 4 to 6 months as an intervention program in an effort to reduce child morbidity and mortality.
Tracking administration of vitamin A to infants and women in developing countries can prove challenging. The limited number of volunteers and workers in supplement programs makes it difficult to conduct surveys or record numbers accurately after vitamin A supplementation. Disparities remain in those who receive supplementation between wealthier families and poorer family and those who reside in urban areas vs. rural areas. Despite efforts from organizations, campaigns and outreach programs may fail to reach those who reside in rural areas. These routine health services, campaign events and outreach programs are critical to the reduction of infant mortality in these areas. It can be accompanied with various child survival interventions, which are well-developed and can aid timely delivery of vitamin A supplements. It is also important to educate those living in less-developed countries regarding the importance of these supplements and to ensure that mothers are well-nourished.
It can prove to be difficult to allow administration of vitamin A in many rural areas of developing countries, which impedes supplementation strategies. As governments in these areas may not be financially able to contribute to these initiatives through their national budget, the majority of vitamin A supplements rely on donations and pledges. It is crucial to maintain sustainability and zone in on critical areas of need. The advocacies and commitments from developed countries in specific programs or poverty-reduction programs for these countries can boost the sustainability of supplement programs. Obtaining the vitamin A supplements are simply the tip of the iceberg; the funding also ensures scheduled freights and storage to quality assurance. A number of competing health programs are present in these countries, and the government and policymakers must ensure that their budgeting and priorities are given to the right programs. The efforts made by government, nonprofit organizations and individuals have aided many children and women in need and made the supplementation programs successful in many countries. Their support should be applauded.
Prevention is the best cure. Vitamin A supplementation programs implemented by organizations and governments can reduce the chances of vitamin A deficiency with the help of international and national efforts. Since 2002, the joint efforts of WHO and UNICEF have reached more than 80 countries either through routine distribution or through other supplementary programs. However, more than 50% of countries still do not have vitamin A distribution.
These programs are reliant on national policy as much as they are on aid from international donations. To progress from malnutrition problems, policymakers must be aware of the magnitude and effects of these problems. Political commitment and advocacy for national health problems needs to be reinforced. It is understandable that there may not be qualified personnel that can advocate on behalf of these supplementary programs. It is my hope that persons of influence around the globe can help educate the new generations in nutritional programs and government officials in critical countries to set aside budgets and realize the importance of these programs. International aid from UNICEF, WHO and other nonprofit organizations can aid with financial resources to alleviate these issues.
References:
Ecker O, et al. Nutrition policies in developing countries: challenges and highlights.
International Food Policy Research Institute. www.ifpri.org/sites/default/files/publications/nutritionpolicies_pn.pdf. Published October 2012.
Immunization: vitamin A. UNICEF. www.unicef.org/immunization/23244_vitamina.html. Accessed Nov. 18, 2013.
World health statistics 2012. World Health Organization. www.who.int/gho/publications/world_health_statistics/2012/en.
For more information:
Dennis S.C. Lam, MD, FRCOphth, can be reached at State Key Laboratory in Ophthalmology, Sun Yat-Yen University, 54 South Xianlie Road, Guangzhou 510060, People’s Republic of China; +852-3997-3266; fax: +852-3996-8212; email: dlam.pub.sklo.sysu.cn@gmail.com.
Disclosure: No products or companies are mentioned that would require financial disclosure.