Train Service Providers
Vitamin Angels offers a variety of trainings for service providers as well as reference materials to provide additional in-depth information on vitamin A supplementation and deworming (VAS+D) and multiple micronutrient supplementation (MMS).
Healthy Pregnancy Starts Here: MMS Training Course
This training strengthens the capacity of service providers to support healthy nutrition during pregnancy through the effective delivery of multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS), also called prenatal multivitamins. The course provides practical guidance on counseling pregnant women on MMS, distributing supplements, and supporting healthy nutrition during pregnancy.
As MMS programs expand globally, service providers need the knowledge and tools to effectively deliver this intervention. This training aims to fill that gap by providing adaptable materials that can be used in a variety of program contexts.
The training can be delivered as a stand-alone course on MMS or integrated into existing maternal and child health trainings, including the Vitamin A Supplementation and Deworming Skills Development Course where relevant. While these materials provide general guidance, national guidelines and locally developed training materials should take precedence where they exist.
If you are a program partner who would like to arrange an MMS training for your service providers, please contact your grant manager or email learningsolutions@vitaminangels.org.
Facilitator’s Guide
This guide describes how to prepare for and conduct the MMS training, including how to adapt and contextualize the materials.
Facilitator’s Guide
MMS Training Course Slides
These slides cover the basics of prenatal supplementation and MMS, how pregnant women should take MMS, how to distribute MMS, and women’s nutrition during pregnancy. An optional session on interpersonal communication is also included.
Healthy Pregnancy Starts Here – Brochure for Mothers
This brochure is a take-home material for pregnant women that can also be used during counseling sessions. It includes a calendar to help them remember to take MMS each day.
MMS Service Delivery Job Aid
This step-by-step illustrated guide can be used during the training and as a job aid for service providers when delivering MMS.
VAS+D Skills Development Course
The Skills Development Course (SDC) is an in-person course taught by a trained facilitator, and offers opportunities for learners to practices skills for vitamin A supplementation and deworming service delivery. Vitamin Angels provides funding to a select number of program partners per year to hold SDCs with support from its trained facilitators, but course materials are linked below and further materials are available under “Reference Materials” at the bottom of this page. The course takes 5-7 hours to complete, and a Certificate of Competency is awarded upon satisfactory completion.
If you are a program partner who would like to arrange a SDC for your service providers, please contact your grant manager or email learningsolutions@vitaminangels.org.
Visual Checklist
Step by step illustrated checklist for service providers of Vitamin A and Deworming.
Step Card
A shorter version of the visual checklist focusing on the most important steps for service delivery. May be used during training to practices skills or as a reminder during service delivery.
Case Study Flash Cards for Practice
Use the VAS+D Steps Card during trainings to help service providers practice VAS+D delivery.
Performance Checklist
This checklist can be used by supervisors to rate service providers on how well they are following best practices in delivering VAS+D interventions. It can be used during practices sessions or during observations of service delivery and should be accompanied by feedback to the service provider to improve their skills.
Instructional Videos
VAS+D Service Delivery Videos
This video demonstrates the main elements of VAS+D distribution: conducting community education, assessing eligibility criteria, giving Vitamin A, giving deworming, record-keeping, and exit counseling.
VAS+D Service Delivery Micro-Videos
These micro-videos show different aspects of service delivery.
Community Education
Eligibility Criteria
Giving Vitamin A
Giving Deworming
Exit Counseling and Recordkeeping
How to Practice Giving VAS+D
It is always important for service providers to practice giving Vitamin A and deworming. Watch these videos for important tips on how to practice.
How to Fill in the Daily Tally Sheet
This video shows how to fill out a tally sheet to track the number of children or pregnant women receiving services. The daily tally sheet can be found here.
VAS+D eLearning Course
The VAS+D eLearning course may be taken individually and at a learner’s own pace and can be repeated multiple times. It can be taken online or offline using a USB (provided by Vitamin Angels) or downloaded to the desktop. It requires a computer or a smartphone. VA provides a certificate of completion.
If you are a current program partner or are interested in accessing the online or desktop versions of the course, please email your grant manager or learningsolutions@vitaminangels.org.
Instructions for Taking the Offline Desktop eLearning Course
Instructions for Taking the Offline USB eLearning Course
Instructions for Group eLearning
Other Online Courses
VAS+D Basics Course
In settings where learners have access to internet and smartphones, but limited access to computers, the VAS+D Basics course is a good alternative to the eLearning Course. The learner can review the training videos embedded in the course at their own pace (which may also be downloaded for offline viewing) and complete the quiz questions following each video.
Reference Materials
Here is a list of additional reference materials with in-depth information on each intervention.
Vitamin A Supplementation and Deworming
Fact Sheets
This is a quick guide for why and how to give vitamin A supplements and deworming to children under five.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common VAS+D questions
Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation
Fact Sheets
This fact sheet is for service providers explains what multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS) for pregnant women are, their benefits, potential side effects, how to administer them, and what are key counseling messages.
Frequently Asked Questions
This information sheet provides answers to frequently asked questions by service providers and pregnant women about taking multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS).