Abstract:
In 2014, Vitamin A Deficiency (VAD) prevalence was estimated at 42 percent among children under five in Africa,1
which
represents approximately 78 million affected children. It is also particularly severe among pregnant and/or lactating women.
The deficiency increases children’s vulnerability to common illnesses and impairs growth, development, vision, and immune
systems. In severe cases, it results in blindness and death. Up to 500,000 preschool children go blind from VAD every year
in Africa, and two-thirds die within a month of being blind. VAD also increases the risk of dying during pregnancy and the
likelihood of giving birth to low weight babies and is believed to facilitate the spread of HIV/AIDS.2