Catalyzing Locally Sustainable Micronutrient Supply and Distribution Systems to Combat Hidden Hunger

Abstract

Objectives: Vitamin A deficiency is a severe public health problem in India with 62% children under five being vitamin A deficient. However, the vitamin A coverage through the government health systems is only 66% and Vitamin Angels seeks to help reach the last 34%. Methods: Complementary to the government’s efforts, Vitamin Angels has actively engaged unconventional networks to reach at risk children in communities not currently being reached by the conventional government health networks. Vitamin Angels’ model motivates and encourages local ownership of tackling the challenge of vitamin A deficiency, thus empowering local change agents and organizations that commit to reaching the children in their areas of operations. This creates a sustainable network that ensures all children 6-59 months in their area receive 2 doses of vitamin A annually. These networks include community based organizations, eye hospitals and their outreach programs, women’s’ self-help groups, etc. Results: Through a network of 200 Indian NGO partners, Vitamin Angels’ provided vitamin A supplements to 4.5 million at risk children under five in 2013. Conclusions: Vitamin Angels experience building this network over the past 5 years demonstrates that it is possible to combat hidden hunger in hard-to-reach marginalized communities and contribute to achieving national health coverage goals by supporting the non-governmental sector.