Dar es Salaam, TANZANIA – Nutrition International, doubled down on its commitment to work with the Government of Tanzania, through the Ministry of Health, towards a shared objective of addressing the consequences of vitamin A deficiency (VAD) across the country through vitamin A supplementation (VAS). His Excellency, Dr. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, former President of Tanzania and Nutrition International board member, presented the 2024 annual supply of vitamin A capsules to the Government of Tanzania, representing the organization, at a ceremony held at the Medical Store Department (MSD) in Dar es Salaam, on March 13^th, 2024.  In total, Nutrition International handed over 22M vitamin A capsules to Hon. Dr. Godwin Oloyce Mollel, Tanzania’s Deputy Minister of Health who represented Hon. Ummy Ally Mwalimu, Tanzania’s Minister of Health.

Dr. George Mwita, Nutrition International’s Country Director for Tanzania called the delivery of the capsules “a testament to what can be achieved when governments, international organizations and communities work together towards a common goal,” adding that, “these vitamin A capsules should be a beacon of hope for the children of Tanzania, contributing to a future where preventable diseases are minimized and every child has the opportunity to thrive.”

Nutrition International, with the support of the Government of Canada, has been a global leader in vitamin A supplementation for more than three decades. This includes improving global delivery, industry standards, policies, as well as working closely with manufacturers, governments and on-the-ground partners to provide up to 75% of the world’s supply of vitamin A capsule. Up to 500M capsules are distributed to children under five in more than 60 countries worldwide, every year.

“VAS is a cost-effective, essential public health intervention to safeguard children who are at risk of vitamin A deficiency from preventable illness and death,” said Dr Mwita. “As a trusted ally to the Government of Tanzania, we are ready to support the strengthening of the country’s health system and creation of an enabling environment that provides children under five with the comprehensive nutrition services they need for their survival and future development.”

In countries where vitamin A deficiency is a public health issue, VAS is a high-impact, low-cost intervention that strengthens the immune system of children under five, reducing their risk of preventable child deaths by 12-24% and offering protection against common childhood illnesses, such as measles and diarrhoea.

Nutrition is foundational to achieving Tanzania’s goals in health, gender, education and economic growth. Towards these efforts, the government has demonstrated its steadfast commitment to addressing malnutrition through VAS, from implementing national policies and guidelines to supporting programs to strengthen the healthcare infrastructure and building the capacity of healthcare workers to deliver VAS. Nutrition International has been a pivotal partner, providing operational and technical support alongside its annual donation of 100% of the national supply of vitamin A capsules. As a result of these efforts, national two-dose coverage has consistently exceeded 90% since 2019, with only one semester in 2020 disrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Nutrition International is very proud to be delivering these capsules directly to the government who will oversee their distribution by integrating delivery into existing routine healthcare platforms,” said H.E. Jakaya Kikwete, noting that Tanzania has been the recipient of Nutrition International’s capsule donation program for more than 20 years, which is distributed in partnership with UNICEF. “Our nation is on the rise and a day will soon come when all children will receive the vitamin A they need from a healthy and well-balanced diet. While we work towards this goal, Tanzania’s vitamin A supplementation program boosts a children’s immune systems, shielding them against common childhood illnesses, and reduces the risk of preventable death by up to 24%.”

Hon. Mwalimu, welcomed the generous support from Nutrition International, through Global Affairs Canada, terming it a milestone in enhancing the nation’s commitment to child health. “Vitamin A capsules are not just supplements. They represent hope, progress and the potential to save countless young lives,” Mwalimu explained. “With a focused strategy on increasing the coverage of two doses of yearly vitamin A supplementation, we are poised to make significant strides in mitigating the impact of vitamin A deficiency, a key factor contributing to child mortality.”

Canada’s High Commissioner in Tanzania, H.E. Kyle Nunas, lauded Nutrition International for its pivotal operational and technical support to ensure 100% of the national supply of vitamin A capsules. “The Government of Tanzania has demonstrated its steadfast commitment to addressing malnutrition through vitamin A supplementation, from implementing national policies and guidelines to support programming to strengthening healthcare infrastructure and building the capacity of healthcare workers to deliver the capsules.”

Currently, VAS is distributed biannually in Tanzania during the Child and Maternal Health and Nutrition Month (CHNM) campaigns held every June and December. However, as funding for these campaigns declines, countries across Africa are seeking technical support to integrate VAS into routine healthcare systems alongside other vital health and nutrition services.

Achieving sustained, high coverage of VAS is possible through its integration into existing healthcare platforms that are already designed to deliver services to children, including screening for acute malnutrition, and growth monitoring and promotion. Moreover, in several sub-Saharan African countries, immunization coverage surpasses that of many critical nutrition interventions, highlighting a gap where children are being reached with their scheduled vaccinations, but miss their age-appropriate VAS doses. This presents an opportunity to move from merely a ‘fully immunized’ child to a ‘fully protected’ child.

“Integration is the way forward for vitamin A supplementation,” said Banda Ndiaye, Vitamin A Portfolio Director in Africa for Nutrition International. “We want the governments, partners and donors we work with to recognize VAS as an entry point for improving population access and utilization of other critical essential child health and nutrition services. By striving to achieve comprehensive coverage, we can ensure no child is left behind.”

Recognizing this, Nutrition International successfully advocated for the phased transition of delivering VAS through routine primary healthcare services for children under five through a series of consultations with the Ministry of Health (MoH) beginning in 2018-19. As a result of these advocacy efforts, the MoH requested the organization provide technical assistance to guide this transition. Subsequently, a consultative process was carried out to achieve consensus on the value of the transition and its potential benefits across the MoH and its key partners at the national and local levels.

Informed by this consensus, Nutrition International conducted a readiness assessment across Tanzania, collecting qualitative data from all levels of the primary healthcare system. The assessment identified the strengths and opportunities within each health system, the platforms to be leveraged, as well as the challenges and risks that need to be addressed to effectively deliver VAS on a routine basis. The report and recommendations were shared and endorsed by the Ministry of Health, underscoring the government’s commitment to eradicating vitamin A deficiency.

As a key partner to the Government of Tanzania, Nutrition International will continue to supply 100% of the national vitamin A capsule supply and support the development and implementation of a plan for the gradual transition, beginning in the Mwanza region. By 2025, the aim is for VAS to be delivered through routine primary health care contact points, using VAS contact as an entry point for delivering a package of essential health and nutrition services to children under five.

Learn more about Nutrition International’s work in Tanzania and with vitamin A supplementation.

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