IITA partners with other organizations to improve the vitamin A status of Nigerians
The Modified Relative Dose Response (MRDR) test is being conducted as part of the ongoing national nutritional survey organized by the Federal Government of Nigeria in conjunction with IITA and other partners. The MRDR test assesses the vitamin A status of people. Participants from Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones were trained to carry out the test on the field during a one-week training workshop facilitated by Principal Investigator Mercy Lung’aho at Rockview Classic Hotel, Abuja, on 2–8 August. Lead Investigator Busie Maziya-Dixon of IITA jointly coordinated the training with Lung’aho and co-Principal Investigator Prof. Rasaki Sanusi.
Field teams giving a dose of vitamin A to the respondent (WRA) in the pilot.
Olapeju Phorbee, Dietary Intake Lead for the National Food Consumption and Micro-Nutrient Survey (NFCMS), appreciated the participants for successful data collection in the first, second, and third phases of NFCMS. Lung’aho explained the reason for data verification and highlighted the three exclusion criteria to be observed in MRDR: severe anemia, severe malnutrition, and fever on the day of dosing. The participants sorted and reviewed samples collected from the NFCMS according to the different Enumeration Areas (EA) and updated their movement plans.
Participants sorting and reviewing the data collected in the previous survey.
The results of the MRDR test will help in planning nutritional interventions and formulate policies for the country.
