Vitamin A Supplementation

Vitamin A deficiency affects some 127 million preschool children globally, putting them at increased risk of sickness and death as the deficiency leaves them vulnerable to infection and with reduced immunity to fight common childhood diseases. Supplementation is cost-effective and has proven potential to reduce the yearly number of preventable child deaths by some 23 per cent. Two annual doses of high-potency supplements, costing less than US $0.04 per child, can prevent and correct the deficiency. This report tracks the progress of supplementation programming following 10 years of global advocacy. It is a 'scorecard' for countries and the international community on progress in scaling up one of the most effective child survival interventions available.