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Chapter 4: Hidden hunger: Approaches to tackling micronutrient deficiencies [Nourishing Millions]

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AROUND THE WORLD, more than 2 billion people are thought to be affected by an often invisible form of malnutrition: micronutrient malnutrition, commonly known as hidden hunger.1 Vitamin and mineral deficiencies—at least in mild to moderate forms—may not be as observable as wasting or obesity, but their effects are far-reaching. Globally, vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is the leading cause of blindness in children.2 Iodine deficiency causes 18 million babies to be born mentally impaired each year.3 And severe anemia caused by lack of iron is associated with the deaths of 115,000 women annually during childbirth.4 Vitamin A, iodine, and iron are classified as “the big three,” but deficiencies of other micronutrients, such as folate, zinc, vitamin B12, and vitamin D, are also important.

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Chapter 4: Hidden hunger: Approaches to tackling micronutrient deficiencies [Nourishing Millions]
Hidden Hunger: Approaches to Tackling Micronutrient Deficiencies Judith Hodge
http://nourishingmillions.ifpri.info/ Micronutrient interventions (1 of 2) • More than 2 billion people suffer from micronutrient malnutrition, known as “hidden hunger.” • “The big 3” • Vitamin A deficiency – leading cause of blindness in children • Iodine deficiency – causes 18 million babies to be born mentally impaired each year • Severe anemia (iron deficiency) – associated with 115,000 deaths of women during childbirth per year • Targeting prevention/treatment to pregnant and lactating women, infants, and young children yields higher rates of return by improving health, nutritional status, and cognition later in life.
http://nourishingmillions.ifpri.info/ Micronutrient interventions (2 of 2) • Global efforts to ensure access to iodized salt reduced the number of iodine-deficient countries from 130 before 1990 to 32 in 2011. • Vitamin A supplementation was scaled up to improve coverage rates of children from 16% in 1994 to 77% in 2009. • Distribution of micronutrient powder sachets by UNICEF and the World Food Program rose from 50 million to 350 million from 2008-2010.Micronutrient Initiative
http://nourishingmillions.ifpri.info/ Micronutrient case study: universal salt iodization in China (1 of 2) China successfully scaled up universal salt iodization through the National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Program, forming a partnership between the Ministry of Health and the salt industry. Impact • Consumption of iodized salt increased from 20% in 1990 to >97% of salt consumed in 2005. • Production and distribution of salt in China rose from 5 million tons (not all iodized) to 8 million tons of iodized salt in under 7 years.
http://nourishingmillions.ifpri.info/ Micronutrient case study: universal salt iodization in China (2 of 2) Factors contributing to success • High-level political leadership recognized the impact of iodine deficiency on children’s intelligence and the implications for human and economic development. • The State Council established a special fund of US$125 million to upgrade production facilities for iodized salt and re-centralized the salt industry as a state monopoly with legal enforcement systems to prohibit the sale of non-iodized edible salt. • Iodized oil supplementation and subsidies for iodized salt reached vulnerable populations. • A shift from national to provincial standards addressed areas at risk of iodine excess.
http://nourishingmillions.ifpri.info/ Micronutrient case study: “Sprinkles” in Mongolia (1 of 2) Mongolia’s Ministry of Health collaborated with development partners to deliver an integrated nutrition package, including micronutrient powders called Sprinkles, targeted to pregnant and breastfeeding women and children <5 yrs to address alarming rates of anemia and rickets. Impact • Anemia prevalence fell from 55% to 33% during the pilot phase, 2002- 2004 • Rickets prevalence fell from 62% to 25% and stunting fell from 26% to 9% during the 2nd phase, 2005-2010 • Program scaled up to national level reaching 50,000 children 6-24 months old
http://nourishingmillions.ifpri.info/ Micronutrient case study: “Sprinkles” in Mongolia (2 of 2) Factors contributing to success • Powder wrapped in culturally acceptable packaging with local language instructions and artwork • Adjustments to pilot program included new amounts of nutrients in Sprinkles, vitamin D supplementation, behavior change initiatives, reduced production costs, and volunteer mothers to mobilize communities • Micronutrient working groups established at national, provincial, and district levels
http://nourishingmillions.ifpri.info/ Micronutrient interventions: Lessons learned • Staged approaches – from pilot to district to national levels – afford opportunities to iron out issues such as the levels of micronutrients required by different populations. • Nutrition champions in influential positions help ensure support and government buy-in for interventions. • Integrating micronutrient interventions into existing health programs and training community volunteers can help make them more sustainable. • Ongoing monitoring and evaluation is crucial for gauging whether interventions are still relevant.

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Chapter 4: Hidden hunger: Approaches to tackling micronutrient deficiencies [Nourishing Millions]

  • 2. Hidden Hunger: Approaches to Tackling Micronutrient Deficiencies Judith Hodge
  • 3. http://nourishingmillions.ifpri.info/ Micronutrient interventions (1 of 2) • More than 2 billion people suffer from micronutrient malnutrition, known as “hidden hunger.” • “The big 3” • Vitamin A deficiency – leading cause of blindness in children • Iodine deficiency – causes 18 million babies to be born mentally impaired each year • Severe anemia (iron deficiency) – associated with 115,000 deaths of women during childbirth per year • Targeting prevention/treatment to pregnant and lactating women, infants, and young children yields higher rates of return by improving health, nutritional status, and cognition later in life.
  • 4. http://nourishingmillions.ifpri.info/ Micronutrient interventions (2 of 2) • Global efforts to ensure access to iodized salt reduced the number of iodine-deficient countries from 130 before 1990 to 32 in 2011. • Vitamin A supplementation was scaled up to improve coverage rates of children from 16% in 1994 to 77% in 2009. • Distribution of micronutrient powder sachets by UNICEF and the World Food Program rose from 50 million to 350 million from 2008-2010.Micronutrient Initiative
  • 5. http://nourishingmillions.ifpri.info/ Micronutrient case study: universal salt iodization in China (1 of 2) China successfully scaled up universal salt iodization through the National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Program, forming a partnership between the Ministry of Health and the salt industry. Impact • Consumption of iodized salt increased from 20% in 1990 to >97% of salt consumed in 2005. • Production and distribution of salt in China rose from 5 million tons (not all iodized) to 8 million tons of iodized salt in under 7 years.
  • 6. http://nourishingmillions.ifpri.info/ Micronutrient case study: universal salt iodization in China (2 of 2) Factors contributing to success • High-level political leadership recognized the impact of iodine deficiency on children’s intelligence and the implications for human and economic development. • The State Council established a special fund of US$125 million to upgrade production facilities for iodized salt and re-centralized the salt industry as a state monopoly with legal enforcement systems to prohibit the sale of non-iodized edible salt. • Iodized oil supplementation and subsidies for iodized salt reached vulnerable populations. • A shift from national to provincial standards addressed areas at risk of iodine excess.
  • 7. http://nourishingmillions.ifpri.info/ Micronutrient case study: “Sprinkles” in Mongolia (1 of 2) Mongolia’s Ministry of Health collaborated with development partners to deliver an integrated nutrition package, including micronutrient powders called Sprinkles, targeted to pregnant and breastfeeding women and children <5 yrs to address alarming rates of anemia and rickets. Impact • Anemia prevalence fell from 55% to 33% during the pilot phase, 2002- 2004 • Rickets prevalence fell from 62% to 25% and stunting fell from 26% to 9% during the 2nd phase, 2005-2010 • Program scaled up to national level reaching 50,000 children 6-24 months old
  • 8. http://nourishingmillions.ifpri.info/ Micronutrient case study: “Sprinkles” in Mongolia (2 of 2) Factors contributing to success • Powder wrapped in culturally acceptable packaging with local language instructions and artwork • Adjustments to pilot program included new amounts of nutrients in Sprinkles, vitamin D supplementation, behavior change initiatives, reduced production costs, and volunteer mothers to mobilize communities • Micronutrient working groups established at national, provincial, and district levels
  • 9. http://nourishingmillions.ifpri.info/ Micronutrient interventions: Lessons learned • Staged approaches – from pilot to district to national levels – afford opportunities to iron out issues such as the levels of micronutrients required by different populations. • Nutrition champions in influential positions help ensure support and government buy-in for interventions. • Integrating micronutrient interventions into existing health programs and training community volunteers can help make them more sustainable. • Ongoing monitoring and evaluation is crucial for gauging whether interventions are still relevant.