International Leadership on Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies
The CDC provides leadership to the global community through its high level participation in numerous international organizations working to eliminate vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Examples of the groups and efforts in which the CDC participates include the following:
- The Network for Sustained Elimination of Iodine Deficiency works to accelerate the universal iodization of salt as a key strategy for ensuring adequate iodine nutrition.
- Every two years, the Micronutrient Forum provides the opportunity for professionals in micronutrient research and programs to share their expertise, insights, and experiences. The forum focuses on deficiencies in vitamin A, iron, folate, iodine, and zinc.
- Numerous international agencies have developed a Ten Year Strategy (TYS) to identify actions that can help address vitamin and mineral deficiencies and provide a forum for interagency collaboration on scientific and programmatic issues.
- The Home Fortification and Point of Use working group (HFTAG) and the mother, infant, and young child nutrition working group (MIYCN) work to develop recommendations and guidelines for international use of micronutrient deficiency reduction programs.
- The Nutrition Guidelines Advisory Group (NuGAG) of WHO is a standing committee which participates in the new WHO guideline determination process.
The CDC plans to continue its leadership role by participating in a variety of efforts designed to eliminate vitamin and mineral deficiencies as public health problems.
The CDC currently works with the following partners through this initiative:
- World Health Organization (WHO)
- United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
- United States Agency for International Development, Micronutrient and Child Blindness Project (USAID/A2Z)
- Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)
- Micronutrient Initiative (MI)
- Numerous other organizations