Howard Schiffer started Vitamin Angels in 1994. He used his connections in the Natural Products Industry,supplement manufacters and raw material suppliers to help children in rural communities and villages around the world.
Vitamin Angels has a program called Operation 20/20 – an international vitamin A campaign. An estimated 190 million children suffer from vitamin A deficiency (VAD) worldwide. Focusing on the underserved and those without access to facility-based health services, they connect infants, children, and lactating women to vitamin A. One high-dose vitamin A capsule can provide one child with sufficient vitamin A for six months. This alone reduces the risk of under-five child mortality by 23%. It’s also a proven cure for one of the most severe effects of VAD, xerophthalmia, a disorder of the eye that can lead to permanent blindness. In addition, Operation 20/20 often combines vitamin A with anti-parasitic treatments that eliminate the presence of intestinal worms that contribute to poor absorption of vitamin A. In 2010, Operation 20/20 will reach about 20,000,000 infants and children, and another approximately 4,000,000 lactating women in 30 countries on three continents.
Another program is called Thrive to Five – a global multi- vitamin campaign. Every year, around 54 million new children are affected by malnutrition or undernutrition. Thrive to Five aims to reach at-risk children under five with essential nutrients before their health and development are negatively impacted. Well-nourished children take better advantage of available educational opportunities. In addition, Thrive to Five provides essential nutrients to new and expecting mothers, increasing the health of both mother and child. Thrive to Five currently distributes around 100 million doses of essential micronutrients annually in about 20 countries on four continents, including the United States.
To learn more about Vitamin Angels visit their website http://www.vitaminangels.org/
