The Vitamin A for Africa PartnershipVITAA"A Food-Based Approach to Vitamin A Deficiency in Sub-Saharan Africa" International Potato Center (CIP)
African Study Shows Effectiveness of Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potatoes:South African scientists working under the umbrella of the Vitamin A for Africa partnership (VITAA) have completed what is believed to be the first controlled study to establish the value of orange-fleshed sweet potatoes in battling one of Africa’s most important public health problems: vitamin A deficiency in young children. Lack of Vitamin A in the diet is a leading cause of early childhood death.The study, which involved primary school students between 5 and 10 years of age, showed that over a period of just 11 weeks, the proportion of children with adequate vitamin A liver stores increased 10% among those who ate high beta-carotene orange-fleshed sweet potatoes. A comparable group that ate only white-fleshed sweet potato experienced a 5% decline. Partner agencies from the health, nutrition and agricultural sectors, operating under the VITAA umbrella, have agreed to work together to extend the new orange-fleshed varieties by 2005 in seven partner countries: Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda.
Similar studies are being considered for India.
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