Vitamin A

Argentina

Iron

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Program Data
Monitoring
Program Resources
     

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL DATA
   
Anemia
Most Recent Anemia Survey - Sub-national survey in Buenos Aires province (NUTRIABA)
Date: Nov-Dec 1999
Groups Surveyed: Children 0-60 months in age.
Sample Size: 449 children.
Sampling Method: Three steps random sampling.
Sampling Strategy: First step was to randomly select 40 primary survey points.  Secondly, a random selection of 20 secondary survey points.  Lastly, a random selection of 30 children in every secondary survey point.
Estimated Anemia Prevalence:

 Group

Sample Size

Indicator

Prevalence in Sample

Estimated Population Affected

Children 0-23 months

101

[Hb] <110 g/L

48.3%

 

Children 23-60 months

348

[Hb] <115 g/L

20.6%

 
Most Recent Anemia Survey - Chaco province survey
Date: Oct-Nov 1998
Groups Surveyed: Children 6-24 months in age and pregnant women.
Sample Size: 440 children 6-24 months in age and 440 pregnant women.
Sampling Method: Three steps random sampling.
Sampling Strategy: First step is to randomly select 44 areas from a list of all census areas in the province.  Second step is to randomly select 10 homes from a list of all homes with pregnant women and independent selection from homes with children 6-24 months.
Estimated Anemia Prevalence: indicator [Hb] < 110g/L

 

Group

Sample Size

Population in Region

Prevalence in Sample

Estimated Population Affected *
Children 6-24 months 399 33,000 66.4%
First trimester Pregnant women 71 NR 17.4%
Second trimester Pregnant women 171 NR 26.5%
Third trimester Pregnant women 122 NR 35.8%
 

POLICY AND LEGISLATION
Legislation on IDA
     Argentina has a policy to address iron deficiency.  It was announced in 2001.  The policy addresses that milk for children from 6 to 24 months in age is fortified with iron, zinc and vitamin C (compulsory in the public health sector).  It also includes iron supplementation in pregnant women, children with low birth weight (<2500g) from 2 to 18 months in age, and children with anemia.  Finally, the policy also states to delay cord ligation until stop pulsating. 
     Policy has not recently been revised. 
   
   
   
   
      
 
Government Agency to Address IDD
     The government agency that deals with IDA is the Nutrition Unit, Public Health Division, Ministry of Health and Education, in the Royal Government of Bhutan.  The Nutrition Unit functions as both a coordination agency and a monitoring agency, and does not receive funding
     Contact information:  Programme Officer, Nutrition Unit, Public Health Division, Ministry of Health and Education, Royal Government of Bhutan, Thimphu Bhutan.
     
     

PROGRAM DATA
   
 Supplementation
Program Description - Pregnant and Post-partum Women

    

To provide iron supplements to pregnant and post-partum women.  It was established since 1988.
 
Targeting

    

All pregnant and post partum women.

    

Total women estimate is 30,000.
   
Capsule Information

    

Type of supplement provided is iron 60 mg + folate 25 mg.

    

Iron capsules are taken twice daily.
   
Implementation

    

Supplements are distributed in antenatal and post-natal clinics.

    

The intended frequency of supplementation doses is twice a day from confirmation of pregnancy to 90 days after delivery (National standards for midwifery practice).

    

A total of 7,200,000 tablets were distributed in the year 2001.
   
Program Description - Children

   

There is no program yet, but there is a growing understanding at policy level that there is a need to start supplementation to pre-school and school children.
 
Fortification
No current fortification programs.
 
Other Programs
Education Campaigns
     There are large-scale or national programs, including mass media campaigns, to promote improved iron status through dietary change, however no description has been provided.
     Bhutan also has a nationwide kitchen garden program promoting cultivation and intake of colored and green leafy vegetables.  A community based nutrition program, ran by health centers.  It is implemented in selected districts to address nutrition, including all micronutrient with an integrated community based, multi-sectoral approach. The beneficiaries are women and children. 

De-worming Programs
     Six monthly de-worming of all under five children with single dose mebendazole through maternal and child health clinics and six-monthly de-worming of all school children with single dose mebendazole. 
   
Malarial Programs
     National malaria control program promotes anti-mosquito measures, including impregnated bed net promotion, environmental control, limited spraying activities and early treatment.
     
     
 

MONITORING
 
Anemia
Current monitoring activities for iron deficiency anemia:
     Routine management information system that reports prevalence of anemia.  However, gross underreporting is possible. 
     The surveys described in the EPIDEMIOLOGY section are not being repeated. 
     There is no facility or community-based monitoring of anemia.
   
Programs
     Coverage of supplementation programs is not monitored.
     
     

PROGRAM RESOURCES
 
Donor and Implementing Agencies

 

Implementing Agency

 

Description of Activities

Expenditure and source of funds in

Current year

Supplementation

Fortification

National/State governments

Supplementation, deworming, dietary promotion, kitchen garden promotion

 

 

NR*

 

 

NR*

 

UNICEF

 

Supplementation, deworming, dietary promotion, kitchen garden promotion

*NR = Not Reported
Total Iron Program Funding History and Forecast for Country

 

Year

Iron Activity

 

Total $USD

 

Supplementation $USD

 

Fortification $USD

Other (specify)

Activity

$USD

1998

10,350.00

0

 

NR*

 

NR*

10,350.00

1999

4,485.00

0

4,485.00

2000

9,300.00

0

9,300.00

2001

11,100.00

0

11,100.00

2002

15,000.00**

0

Evaluation of IDA status, dissemination and plan of action development

30,000.00

45,000.00**

2003

20,000.00

0

 

 

20,000.00

2004

22,000.00

0

22,000.00

2005

25,000.00

0

25,000.00

 
*NR = Not Reported
**Piloting supplementation in schools is planned for 2002.