The Government of Nepal is administering Vitamin A capsules to children across the country today and Monday under the National Vitamin A Programme. Alongside Vitamin A, deworming medicine is also being distributed, according to Lila Bikram Thapa, Chief of the Nutrition Section at the Department of Health Services under the Ministry of Health and Population.
As part of the campaign, approximately 2.2 million children aged 6 to 59 months will receive Vitamin A capsules. Similarly, around 2 million children aged one year to under five years are being given the deworming medicine Albendazole. Local governments have set up vaccination and distribution centers at accessible locations to facilitate the programme. Around 52,000 Female Community Health Volunteers and 15,000 health workers have been mobilized for this effort.
Medical professionals state that Vitamin A plays a crucial role in improving eyesight, strengthening immunity, and supporting children’s growth and development. Deworming medicine helps eliminate intestinal worms and protects children from malnutrition, anemia, stomach pain, and diarrhea.
The Vitamin A programme, aimed at preventing and treating Vitamin A deficiency, began in eight districts in 1993 (2050 BS) and was expanded nationwide in 2002 (2059 BS). Likewise, the deworming programme started in 13 districts in 1999 (2056 BS) and was implemented across all districts from 2010 (2067 BS). The government provides Vitamin A and deworming medicine free of cost every year in Kartik and Baisakh.
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