The Hindu : National : “330,000 children die every year for want of vitamin A”

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Saturday, Dec 15, 2007
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“330,000 children die every year for want of vitamin A”

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: India has the highest number of vitamin A deficient children in the world, with 330,000 of them dying annually because of this malady.

Despite years of various supplementation approaches, deficiencies of these micronutrients are still largely prevalent, according to Sesikeran, Director, National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad.

In a paper presented at a conference on “Role of Micronutrients in Child Development: Give Kids a Good Start,” organised by the International Life Sciences Institute here on Friday, Dr. Sesikeran said studies carried out by various agencies showed that the prevalence of anaemia, vitamin

A deficiency and iodine deficiency disorders continue to be high, though there is a small decline in the prevalence of iodine deficiency disorders.

Inaugurating the conference, D.H. Pai Panandiker, chairman of the Institute, said 75 per cent of the children in the country were anaemic, 57 per cent were deficient in vitamin A and 26 did not have enough intake of zinc.

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