KATHMANDU, Oct 18: The government is going to conduct this year's National Vitamin A program on November 3 and 4.
The government has been conducting the program twice every year with the first phase on October 19 and October 20 and the second phase on April 19 and April 20. However, due to Dashain this year, the first phase of the program has been scheduled for November 3 and November 4, according to the Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services.
Children being administered vitamin A
According to Bibek Karn Lal, head of the Department, vitamin 'A' capsules will be given to around 3,200,000 children aged 6 to 59 months during the two-day campaign. Similarly, more than 2.9 million children between 1 and 5 years will be administered medicine against leprosy.
Parents can take their children to a nearby vaccination center to administer vitamin ‘A’ and deworming medicine. The government has been running the 'National Vitamin A Program' since 1993 to mitigate health complications and malnutrition in children. The leprosy medication program was initiated in 1999.
In this program, 52,000 health volunteers and 15,000 health workers will be deployed across the country.
The Ministry of Health and Population has issued a circular to the ministries of social development under the seven provincial governments and local levels to make the Vitamin ‘A’ program a success.
