Avinash is three years old, and he’s in danger of going blind. We met Avinash (pictured right) yesterday at a vitamin A distribution at Prerana Educational Center in Salugara, India. He already had Bitot’s spots on his left eyeball. Bitot’s spots are dry areas usually resulting from prolonged vitamin A deficiency (VAD). Left untreated these areas begin to scar, causing a reduction in vision which can progress to blindness. Being vitamin A deficient also means Avinash’s immune system is compromised. He is more vulnerable to common childhood illnesses like measles or diarrhea; even an infection could be life threatening. Fortunately, Avinash received his first dose of vitamin A yesterday; it was a critical intervention. Just one dose of vitamin A twice a year will increase his chances of survival by 24% and dramatically reduce, if not eliminate, his risk of going blind.

Avinash was part of the 62.1% of children under the age of five who suffer from VAD in India, (the highest rate in the world). Now, Avinash is one of the 1.5 million children in India who are no longer at risk of VAD because they are receiving vitamin A through our Operation 20/20 program.

Making sure every child receives the vitamin A they need is crucial. Two days ago, Dr. Shilpa Bhatte, Vitamin Angels’ In-Country Director for India, introduced us to a child at the Havilh Christian English School where we were observing a distribution. Sadly, the child already had corneal damage and a loss of vision due to vitamin A deficiency.

During another distribution today in Bihar, one of the poorest states in India, a pediatrician told us of the rampant symptoms of vitamin A deficiency in the region (poor health, Bitot’s spots, advanced dryness in the eyeballs of young children and more). Then he shared how giving the children vitamin A often completely reversed these symptoms depending on the severity of the problem. The pediatrician proudly showed us the two bottles of Vitamin Angels’ vitamin A on his desk (one bottle for children 6-11 months, the other for children 12-59 months), and assured us that all of the children under the age of 5 that he treats are receiving vitamin A.

I’m looking forward to meeting more children as the trip continues. They reach up to touch our hands, practice their English with us, and say “thank you” for coming to see them. It’s a gift to see their warm smiling faces and to know we are helping to change their lives for the better.

Upwards!

Howard B. Schiffer


Thanks to the travelers who are joining me in India; Jim Hamilton, the President of DSM Nutritional Products, USA (DSM is the largest supplier of vitamin A in the world!), and a member of Vitamin Angels’ Board of Advisors; Annie, Jodie and Julie from Nature’s Own (Australia); Heather from Vitol; and Eliza from Madison Magazine. Phoebe Hitchman, GIK Coordinator for Vitamin Angels, and resident photographer, Matt Dayka, rounded out our group. It’s been wonderful introducing each of you to some of the children you are helping us reach. A special thank you as well to Dr. Shilpa Bhatte, and to our partners at Believer’s Church for hosting our team and for the incredible work you are doing for the children of India.