Zambia
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Project
Monitoring of vitamin A fortified sugar in Zambia
Start Date June 2001
Background and Purpose
The government of Zambia has been implementing a national integrated plan for the preventing and controlling vitamin A deficiency. The plan includes a vitamin A supplementation program for children aged 6–72 months, projects for dietary improvement, and sugar fortification that is mandated by 1997 law.
CDC is collaborating with the USAID Micronutrient Project, MOST, and with national counterparts in Zambia to identify the gaps in monitoring systems for fortified sugar, and to identify methods required to improve sample collection and fill current data gaps. In addition the team involved has developed plans for impact evaluation. A detailed action plan was created to address the following issues:
- Strengthening laboratory quality assurance
- Strengthening monitoring of fortified sugar quality at production level
- Improving understanding of losses from production to point of sale
- Improving understanding of losses from purchase to consumption
- Examining sugar consumption patterns
- Monitoring importation of non-fortified sugar
- Measuring the impact of programs to improve vitamin A status
Scope
National level sugar fortification effort in Zambia
Partners
- National Food and Nutrition Commission (NFNC) Zambia
- Food and Drug Control Lab (FDCL) Zambia
- Central Board of Health (CBOH) Zambia
- Zambia Sugar
- MOST (USAID Micronutrient Program)
- CARE Zambia
Progress and Future Plans
Plans are underway to address all the above issues included in the action plan. In particular progress has been made with
- Implementing improved quality assessment procedures for analysis of retinol in sugar produced in Zambia. External assistance, including comparison of quality control materials, has been contracted to Craft Technologies Inc.
- Developing survey methodology to evaluate the impact on vitamin A status of national interventions, supplementation, and sugar fortification to improve vitamin A nutrition.
The impact assessment survey is expected to be implemented in spring 2003. Continued visits to Zambia will be made to assist with implementing all planned activities.
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Page last updated: May 22, 2007
Content Source: Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion