A ministry must choose between micronutrient supplementation programs and mandatory fortification of a staple to combat vitamin A deficiency. Which evaluation criterion should most influence the decision in a low‑resource setting with weak health systems?

Preference for single high‑dose supplementation because it requires no regulatory oversight and guarantees 100% uptake among the most remote populations without any delivery infrastructure.

Rely exclusively on distributing vitamin A‑rich fruits and vegetables through market subsidies without fortification or supplementation, assuming immediate market shifts are guaranteed even with weak infrastructure.

Population coverage feasibility and sustainability: mandatory fortification of a widely consumed staple typically achieves broader, more consistent population coverage with fewer recurrent delivery costs than clinic‑based supplementation where health system reach is limited.

Choose neither because vitamin A deficiency cannot be modified by nutrition programs and will resolve spontaneously as economies grow.