ABSTRACT
Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) has been recognised as a major public health problem in India since the 1960s. The emerging national profile on the prevalence of VAD indicated a wide variation in VAD prevalence in 26 states/union territories. Interestingly, the VAD surveys within a state also reported a wide intra-district and cluster to cluster variation in VAD prevalence rates in preschool children. Despite a reduction in clinical signs of VAD, subclinical deficiency of vitamin A continued to be widespread. In India, efforts have been made to control VAD since the 1970s, when it was first recognised to be a public health issue. In early 2000, a number of delivery strategies were experimented for vitamin A supplement administration, such as the intensive campaign approach as well as the biannual delivery strategy. Health and Integrated Child Development Services program of district, block and village level were responsible for implementation of the Bal Swasthya Poshan Mah activities.
