USAID grant to Helen Keller International to provide support in the child survival program in Indonesia and Bangladesh to reduce child morbidity, mortality and blindness related to vitamin A deficiency

Interventions will focus on improving the coverage and effectiveness of capsule distribution; use of alternative delivery methods (i.e., liquids and fortification); determining linkages to other child survival strategies, such as oral rehydration therapy and immunization; and foodstuff fortification with vitamin A, where appropriate. Education efforts will include training of health workers to recognize and treat vitamin A deficiency; public education to promote breastfeeding and the production and consumption of vitamin A-rich foods; and educating decisionmakers and development institutions about the significance of vitamin A deficiency and the application of appropriate technology for its alleviation. Integral to HKI"s strategy is the design and implementation of efforts which can be effectively measured from a number of reference points, particularly: measuring program effectiveness and project cost-effectiveness and reconfirming and quantifying the linkage and impact of vitamin A on mortality among children ages 1-5.