ABSTRACT
In 2008, a group of world-renowned economists in an exercise known as the Copenhagen Consensus [1], ranked micronutrient supplements as the top development priority out of more than 40 interventions, such as The Doha Development Agenda, Expanded Immunization Coverage for Children, Malaria Prevention and Treatment and Peace-keeping in postconflict situations. The criteria used included the benefit-cost ratio, as well as feasibility and sustainability of the interventions. Specifically, it identified vitamin A supplementation for children (every 4-6 months, from age 6 months to 5 years) and therapeutic zinc supplementation along with oral rehydration therapy for diarrhea (10-14 days of supplementation, up to the age of 5) as interventions which can contribute significantly to reducing child mortality world wide with relatively modest investments. Global evidence summaries have suggested that vitamin A supplementation can reduce all-cause mortality for children 6-59 months by 23%, and several studies have indicated that therapeutic zinc supplements for diarrhea can reduce diarrheal mortality below the age of five by 50%.
