The main objective of Zinc Saves Kids in Peru is to contribute to the improvement of child survival, growth and development, through the strengthening of national policies for the prevention and control of micronutrient deficiencies – with a special emphasis on zinc – and through supporting its implementation nationwide. The goal for this objective is to reduce in 15% the stunting in children under three years old in populations with high risk of zinc deficiency in the country. Zinc Saves Kids will initially be implemented in the districts of Apurimac, Huancavelica, Ayacucho, Cusco and Lima.

For most families in Nepal, regular access to micronutrient-rich foods is a distant reality, and as micronutrient fortification initiatives are in early stages of development there is a need for preventive multiple micronutrient supplementation. Zinc intervention as treatment is also critical for child survival. Diarrhea and pneumonia are the current leading causes of under five child deaths in Nepal. Use of zinc tablets as part of diarrhea management can enhance a child’s immunity and reduce severity of illness as well as decreasing the risk of future diarrheal episodes.