KATHMANDU: Preparations are underway to administer Vitamin A supplements to approximately 2.1 million children across the country on November 4 and 5.
The first phase of the government’s regular Vitamin A supplementation program for the fiscal year 2083/84 was originally scheduled for October 19 and 20. However, the program was rescheduled to November 4 and 5 due to the Dashain festival.
Lila Bikram Thapa, chief of the Nutrition Section at the Department of Health Services, said Vitamin A capsules would be administered to children aged six to 59 months, while deworming medication would be provided to children aged one to five years.
Approximately 2.1 million children are expected to receive Vitamin A supplements, while around 2 million children will receive deworming medication. The Vitamin A supplies have already been dispatched to provincial health supply centres.
The government began its regular Vitamin A supplementation program in 2050 BS and introduced deworming medication in 2056 BS to reduce the risk of health complications and malnutrition among children.
Around 52,000 Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs) and 10,000 health workers will be mobilized nationwide to carry out the Vitamin A supplementation program.