BOGOR, Indonesia — Vitamin Angels has expanded its partnership with Indonesia’s Ministry of Health to support the country’s nationwide vitamin A supplementation campaign by providing technical assistance, training for health workers, and 870,000 vitamin A capsules for children.
The August campaign marks Vitamin Angels’ first direct support for the Ministry of Health’s national vitamin A program. The collaboration builds on more than a decade of the nonprofit’s work in Indonesia, where it has supported vitamin A supplementation and deworming programs through local nongovernmental organizations since 2015.
Under the expanded partnership, Vitamin Angels worked with the ministry on health worker training, communication and behavior-change strategies, campaign materials, monitoring and evaluation, and vitamin A supply availability.
Indonesia conducts nationwide vitamin A supplementation campaigns each February and August for children ages 6 to 59 months. According to the World Health Organization, vitamin A supplementation can reduce child mortality by up to 24% among children ages 6 to 59 months in populations at risk of vitamin A deficiency.
Consistently reaching eligible children remains a challenge. Indonesia’s 2023 National Health Survey found that 49.9% of eligible children received one dose of vitamin A, and 32.2% received the recommended two doses. The survey also found that 21.5% of children under age five were stunted and 8.5% were wasted.
“The greatest impact comes when governments lead and partners strengthen what’s already working,” said Otte Santika, Indonesia country advisor for Vitamin Angels. “Supporting the Ministry of Health’s national campaign for the first time marks an important milestone in our work to improve child health in Indonesia. We’re proud to contribute our technical expertise and experience to help strengthen a program that reaches millions of children across the country and continues to improve with each campaign.”
A major component of the partnership is strengthening the capabilities of frontline health workers who administer vitamin A services. Vitamin Angels supported a national webinar led by the Ministry of Health, featuring ministry leaders, pediatric nutrition experts, and communication specialists.
The live training reached 3,755 participants across Indonesia. By Aug. 11, a recorded version available on the Ministry of Health’s digital learning platform had attracted an additional 17,995 views.
“Indonesia’s National Vitamin A Supplementation Program plays a critical role in protecting the health and development of children across the country,” said Dr. Lovely Daisy, MKM, director of Family Health Services at the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia. “We appreciate Vitamin Angels’ support in strengthening health worker capacity, improving communication strategies, supporting monitoring and evaluation, and helping ensure vitamin A was available for this campaign. Together, we are building an even stronger program that will benefit more children in the years ahead.”
Vitamin Angels also responded to an urgent ministry request for additional vitamin A supplies ahead of the August campaign. In coordination with local manufacturer Kimia Farma and government officials, the organization procured and delivered 870,000 vitamin A capsules to support uninterrupted distribution.
The partnership is expected to extend beyond the current campaign. Vitamin Angels plans to continue collaborating with the Ministry of Health on monitoring and evaluation, communications and educational materials, and preparations for Indonesia’s Vitamin A Supplementation Month in February 2027.
Founded in 1994, Vitamin Angels partners with governments and other organizations to improve maternal and child nutrition among underserved populations. The nonprofit says its programs reach about 74 million women and children annually in about 65 countries, including the United States.
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