Distribution of vitamin-A capsules for the prevention and control of vitamin-A deficiency in Bangladesh

Abstract

Vitamin-A deficiency is widespread in Bangladesh. Because of this, the prevalence of night blindness and xerophthalmia is well in excess of the levels at which WHO considers there to be a public health problem. In 1973 the government of Bangladesh instituted a scheme for distributing high-dose vitamin-A capsules (200 000 IU) to all rural children under six years old. The vitamin-A capsule distribution programme has three main components: 1) delivery and collection of capsules for distribution to rural areas, 2) distribution of the capsules to recipients and reporting back or monitoring of this distribution, and 3) assessment (internal monitoring). This paper describes each of these components and also looks at coverage of the targeted children, the impact of the programme, constraints affecting coverage, and possible future directions. -from Authors