22 Lakhs Children to Receive Vitamin A and Deworming Medication Nationwide This Weekend

Kathmandu: The Ministry of Health and Population is administering vitamin A capsules and deworming medicine to children across the country today and tomorrow (Saturday and Sunday) under the National Vitamin A Program.

The campaign, aimed at combating child malnutrition—a persistent issue affecting physical, intellectual, and mental development—targets children between the ages of six and 59 months for vitamin A, and those aged one to five years for deworming medicine.

“Vitamin A deficiency can lead to vision problems, including night blindness and even permanent blindness,” said Dr. Vivek Kumar Lal, Director of the Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services. “Deworming helps prevent intestinal wounds and nutrient absorption issues caused by poor hygiene and worm infections, which contribute to malnutrition.”

The program includes additional activities such as providing baby food and conducting nutritional assessments to detect malnutrition among children.

Approximately 52,000 female community health volunteers and 15,000 health workers have been mobilized for the campaign. The National Vitamin A Program, launched in 2050 BS in eight districts, has been implemented nationwide since 2059 BS. Similarly, the deworming initiative, which began in 13 districts in 2056 BS, was expanded to cover the entire country by 2067 BS.

Since 2064 BS, the government has provided vitamin A and deworming medicine free of cost every year in the months of Baisakh and Kartik. Vitamin A is crucial not only for eye health but also for protecting the body from infectious diseases and ensuring overall physical and mental growth. According to government data, one child in Nepal loses their vision every day due to a lack of vitamin A.