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The Problem: Some facts about vitamin and mineral
status in Africa
- National productivity (GDP) losses ranging between 0.4% (South
Africa) and 1.5% (Guinea Bissau)2 are due to vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
In countries where economic growth is already constrained by other factors,
these losses contributing significantly to slowing economic growth. As vitamin
and mineral deficiencies mostly affect poor people, the burden is
disproportionately on the poor.
- 18% of the global disease burden is due to vitamin and mineral
deficiencies.
- More than 50% of under-five children suffer from iron
deficiency anaemia in Sub-Saharan Africa, affecting mental development, school
participation and educational achievement.
- Among adults, iron deficiency affects work capacity, with
significant economic consequences for individuals and society.
- Eliminating severe anaemia could reduce the maternal disease
burden by 13%.
- In 30 countries in Africa, over 50% of children suffer from
iron deficiency, anaemia.
- Improving the Vitamin A status of young children in Africa may
reduce child mortality by as much as 25% from the 1995 levels.
- Achieving universal salt iodization would protect over 10
million infants in Africa from preventable brain damage.
Examples of estimated annual national
productivity losses (% GDP)
due to vitamin and mineral deficiencies
Countries (for whom data was available) ranked
by percentage of children
estimated to be iron and vitamin A deficient, by
Region, 2000
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