Vitamin A & deworming campaign begins nationwide for children

KATHMANDU: The government has launched a nationwide campaign today and on Monday to administer Vitamin A supplements to children across the country.

Under the National Vitamin A Programme, the Ministry of Health and Population has also begun distributing deworming medicine alongside Vitamin A capsules.

According to Lila Bikram Thapa, Chief of the Nutrition Section at the Department of Health Services, the two-day programme aims to reach approximately 22 lakh children aged six to 59 months with Vitamin A capsules.

Similarly, around 20 lakh children aged between one year and under five years are being provided with the deworming medicine Albendazole as part of the campaign.

For the programme, local governments have set up vaccination and distribution centres at accessible locations to ensure easy participation.

A total of around 52,000 female community health volunteers and 15,000 health workers have been mobilised to implement the campaign nationwide.

Health officials say Vitamin A plays a crucial role in improving eyesight, strengthening immunity, and supporting the growth and development of children.

Likewise, deworming medicine helps eliminate intestinal worms and protects children from malnutrition, anaemia, stomach pain, and diarrhoea.

The Vitamin A deficiency prevention and treatment programme was first initiated in eight districts in 2050 BS and was expanded nationwide from 2059 BS. Similarly, the deworming programme, started in 13 districts in 2056 BS, was extended to all districts from 2067 BS.

Both Vitamin A and deworming medicines are provided free of cost twice every fiscal year—in Kartik and Baisakh.