Tarai protests bar 200,000 kids from taking Vit A

JANAKPURDHAM (Dhanusa), Nov 4: The ongoing agitation in the Tarai has affected the National Vitamin A Programme on November 3 and 4 in Dhanusa this year, depriving around 200,000 children under age of five of being administered Vitamin A capsules and de-worming tablets, the District Public Health Office (DPHO) said.

Under the programme, children between six months to five years of age are administered Vitamin A capsules, while children aged between one to five years are given de-worming tablets.DPHO chief Sachitananda Dev said that they failed to dispatch required medicines stored in Hetauda in Makawanpur, Pathalaiya in Bara and Bardibas in Mahottari to respective health posts due to the protest.

He added that the Vitamin A Programme would be continued in Dhanusa after Tihar festival if the tense situation eases.

The DPHO said that a total of 199,523 children below five years of age in Dhanusa are deprived of the facility as a result.

Meanwhile, various health facilities in the district are reeling under a shortage of medicines due to the protest. RSS

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