Vitamin A

UNICEF has been the recipient of a substantial contribution in kind of vitamin A capsules from the Canadian Government through the Micronutrient Initiative, since 1997. The purpose of the contribution is to support and enhance national programmes that aim to improve the vitamin A status of children and mothers in countries or country regions where vitamin A deficiency is a significant public health problem. UNICEF is responsible for distributing the supplements to countries where vitamin A deficiency programmes are underway. In 2004, UNICEF shipped $9.3 million worth of Vitamin A, including $8.3 million of which was donated, representing some 500 million capsules, to 75 countries. The top five recipient countries were Pakistan, Nigeria, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Afghanistan.