The National Health Mission (NHM) of Nagaland signed an agreement with the non-profit organisation to undertake the nutrition intervention in Dimapur, Niuland and Chümoukedima districts through 2024-25, an official statement said.
The project, extending an existing partnership, aims to strengthen nutritional interventions using an "implementation science" approach focused on community needs. An NHM-Vitamin Angels team will monitor the drive.
Only 46 per cent of Nagaland's children aged 9-35 months received vitamin A doses as per National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-5 data, much lower than the 71 per cent national average. Vitamin A boosts immunity, and its deficiency can cause blindness and increase disease susceptibility.
"We've made progress in improving nutrition levels but need to do more. This pilot will help address supply-demand gaps," said Dr Khelito Zhimomi, Joint Director at the state's Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health plus Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) wing.
Vitamin Angels India's Shruti Menon stressed the NGO's commitment to taking services to the "last mile" aided by the state's resolve.
The pilot's formative research is slated to kick off by June-July this year.
Vitamin A is crucial for boosting immunity and its deficiency can cause blindness, increase susceptibility to diseases like measles and diarrhoea among kids. Guidelines recommend nine doses at six-month intervals for under-five children from nine months of age.
