Vitamin A Deficiency - Cameroon

Iodine

Cameroon

Vitamin A

Iron




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Country Index		Epidemiological Data
Country Profile		Policy & Legislation
		Program Data
		Monitoring
		Program Resources

	EPIDEMIOLOGICAL DATA


Clinical Vitamin A Deficiency
Most Recent Clinical VAD Survey
	Date:	1992
	Groups Surveyed:	Children 2-5 yrs. both sexes
	Sample Size:	5420
	Sampling Method:	Random Sample
	Estimated Prevalence of Clinical VAD:

Region/Group*	Sample size	Prevalence in sample %
Logone and Chari Division	5420	0.62% Xeropthalmia
		0.47% Bitot’s spot
		0.06% corneal xerosis
		0.12% corneal ulceration


Sub-clinical Vitamin A Deficiency
Most Recent Clinical VAD Survey
	Date:	August to November 2000
	Groups Surveyed:	Children 12 - 71 months
	Sample Size:	2375
	Sampling Method:	The most recent survey took place nationwide. The country was divided by ecological zones. The survey targeted children, male and female, aged 12 to 71 months. WHO cluster sampling was used. 2375 children were sampled for serum retinol.

Estimated Prevalence of Sub-clinical VAD: Indicator is serum retinol < 20 µg/dl

Region/Group*	Sample size	Indicator	Prevalence in sample %	Est. Pop. Affected
Forestry zone	497	serum retinol < 20 µg/dl	38.0
High lands	472	serum retinol < 20 µg/dl	32.6
Coastal	472	serum retinol < 20 µg/dl	35.1
Sahel	474	serum retinol < 20 µgdl	50.6
Douala/Yaoundé	478	serum retinol < 20 µg/dl	37.5


	POLICY AND LEGISLATION

Legislation on VAD
	There is no VAD legislation in Cameroon, however, there is a national policy for the administration protocol for vitamin A capsules.


Government Agency to Address VAD
	The Nutrition Unit of the MoPH is responsible for coordination and monitoring of VAD.
	Contact Info: Daniel Sibetcheu


	PROGRAM DATA


Supplementation
Program Description
	Supplementation takes place during National Immunization Days. This began partially in 1998, but became national in 1999. There is also supplementation during routine immunization and consultation of sick children, which began in 1998.
	Women are to be supplemented with 2 capsules of 200,000 IU within 6-8 weeks after delivery


Targeting
	Children 6 mos - 5 yrs:	3,025,035 (NID's)
	Lactating women:	608,000


Implementation
	Coverage has been 100% during NID's. Routine immunization coverage is 9% (MICS). Data is not available for supplementation for lactating mothers.

VA Supply (for target year):

Source	Supplementation: Capsules No. & Value of Capsules (000)
	200,000 IU		100,000 IU		50,000 IU		10,000 IU
	No.	$	No.	$	No.	$	No.	$
Imported into country	3,783,000	Donation/UNICEF	1,574,000	Donation/UNICEF	4,591,000	Donation/UNICEF	0
Locally produced	0		0		0
Totals	3,783,000	Donation/UNICEF	1,574,000	Donation/UNICEF	4,591,000	Donation/UNICEF


Fortification
	The only reported food that is fortified is margarine. This commodity is reported to be 100% fortified, however the level of fortification has not been determined and there is no monitoring.


Other Programs
Dietary Change
	There are no national or community-based programs to promote improved vitamin A status through dietary change.



	MONITORING

Clinical and Sub-clinical VAD
	The surveys described in the epidemiology section are not being repeated.
	The indicator used for monitoring sub-clinical VAD is supplementation coverage.
	There is no monitoring for clinical VAD.

Supplementation
	The number of capsules is monitored at the national level by stock management.
	Coverage of the supplementation program is monitored via surveys and recording in health facilities.

Fortification
	There is no monitoring of fortified foods.



	PROGRAM RESOURCES

Donor Agencies

Implementing Agency	Description of Activities	Expenditure and source of funds in current year
Implementing Agency	Description of Activities	Supplementation	Fortification
National/State Governments	Training, advocacy, monitoring, survey	State Budget (NR)	NR
UNICEF	- Vitamin A capsules supply,TRAINING - provision of funds for activities	UNICEF (NR)	NR
WHO	Training	60,000 US$	NR

NR = Not Reported

VAD Program Funding History and Projections

Year	VAD Activity				Total $(000)
	Supplementation $(000)	Fortification $(000)	Other (specify)
	Supplementation $(000)	Fortification $(000)	Activity	$(000)
2001
2002	500,000				500,000
2003	1,000,000	50,000	40,000		1,090,000
2004	1,000,000	150,000	250,000		1,400,000
2005	900,000	500,000	500,000		1,900,000