Gambia Iodine

Ghana

Vitamin A

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Monitoring
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EPIDEMIOLOGICAL DATA
     
Clinical Vitamin A Deficiency
Most Recent Clinical VAD Survey
Date: 1997 - Ministry of Health Survey
Groups Surveyed: Children 6 - 59 months of age.
Sample Size: 6,560
Sampling Method: A multi-stage sampling of 28 districts randomly selected from 7 southern regions with 10 villages per district. Systematic sampling of 25 children per village. 280 villages and a sampling size of 6,500 children aged 6-59 months. Laboratory analysis was done on 30 percent sub-sample of the selected children.
Estimated Prevalence of VAD:

Area

Sample Size

Indicator

Prevalence (%)

Est. Pop. Affected
       

 
National 6,560 XN < 1.0%

 
       

 
 
Sub-clinical Vitamin A Deficiency
Most Recent Sub-Clinical VAD Survey  --  Same as for clinical above
Date: 1997 - Ministry of Health Survey
Groups Surveyed: Children 6 - 59 months of age.
Sample Size: 6,560
Sampling Method: A multi-stage sampling of 28 districts randomly selected from 7 southern regions with 10 villages per district. Systematic sampling of 25 children per village. 280 villages and a sampling size of 6,500 children aged 6-59 months. Laboratory analysis was done on 30 percent sub-sample of the selected children.
Estimated Prevalence of VAD:  Serum retinol < 0.7 mmol/Liter
Area/Location Sample Size Prevalence (%) Est. Pop. Affected
Coastal 383 79.3  
Forest 603 73.0  
Savannah 64 81.2  
VAST   65  (<.35mmol/L)  
Total 1050    

 
 
     
 

POLICY AND LEGISLATION
 

Legislation on VAD

          

There is no VAD legislation in Ghana, nor is it about to be developed or enacted into law.

          

Documents stating the national policy regarding VAD have not been published.
 

Government Agency to Address VAD

         

Nutrition Unit of the Ghana Health Service.  This agencies function is both coordination and mointoring.

          

Contact Information:  Not reported.
     

PROGRAM DATA
Supplementation
Program Description
     There is a mass national campaign twice a year which provides supplementation to 6 - 59 month year old children.  Supplementations are also provided to post-partum women.
     The program started in 1997.
Targeting

    

Children 6-59 months: 3,800,000
Capsule Information

    

Imported:  200,000 IU -- 9,500,000

    

Imported:  100,000 IU -- 1,200,000
Capsule Distribution

Region/Group*

Estimated # of people supplemented, 2X/year

6-59 month olds

3,597,830

Ashanti Region

624,588

Brong Ahafo

353.130

Central

351,957

Eastern

416,690

Greater Accra

439,004

Northern

427,756

Upper East

217,731

Upper West

120,435

Volta

240,073

Western

406,466

National Total:

3,597,830

 
Implementation

    

Vitamin A capsule distributions occur twice per year, and are distributed via National Immunization Days, mass campaigns, and in schools.

 

Supplementation for mothers within 8 weeks of delivery just commenced in health facilities.  Community-based distribution is currently under consideration.
Fortification

Program Description
   Currently, oil, milk, and margarine are fortified with vitamin A.
Other Programs
     There is promotion of dietary change to improve vitamin A status via national mass media campaigns.
     There are community-based programs to promote improved vitamin A status.  These are run by nutrition and agricultural extension workers.
     
     
 
MONITORING
 

Clinical and Sub-clinical VAD
     The surveys mentioned previously may be repeated, it is under consideration.
     The indicators for monitoring clinical VAD and sub-clinical VAD were not reported.
 
Supplementation
     Capsules are monitored through stock control and program reports.

    

Coverage of the supplementation program is accomplished via reporting from the administration within the preventative health system.
Fortification
     The private sector conducts 1200 household surveys monthly.
     
     
PROGRAM RESOURCES
Donor Agencies

 

Implementing Agency

 

Description of Activities

Expenditure and source of funds in

current year

Suppl.

Fortif.

Food based (specify)

Nutrition Unit

Supplementation, initiating fortification/IEC/Coordination  Support to planning, implementation and review of above

$140,000 UNICEF funding provided by IDRC, USAID

$3,400 UNICEF funding provided by  USAID

$4000 UNICEF funding
Total VAD Program Funding History and Forecast for Country

 

Year

VAD Activity

 

Total $(000)

 

Supplementation $(000)

 

Fortification $(000)

Other (specify)

Activity

$(000)

1998

22.528

NIL

VAD Prevalence

21.116

43.645

1999

69.334

NIL

IVACG

3.906

73.240

2000

51.660

NIL

 

 

51.660

2001

240.028

3.161

 

 

243.189

2002

150.405

4

 

 

154.405

2003

110

20

 

 

130

2004

100

25

 

 

125

2005

70

20

 

 

90