Vitamin A supplementation facilitates child survival and growth and it also aids in enhancing their body’s immunity. Vitamin A deficiency is the leading cause of childhood blindness. However, children with moderate Vitamin A deficiency tend to have a weaker immune system and are at a higher risk of developing respiratory infections, malarial episodes, measles, and diarrheal diseases. A meeting was conducted earlier last week, and we were able to attend it. It included the government health officials and health care providers to facilitate Vitamin A Supplementation in the local region.
The meeting was conducted to ensure endless supplementation of Vitamin A to children within the age bracket of 6-59 months of age. The supplementation program will aid in reducing mortality and morbidity rates and thus improve the quality of life. The supplements were to be delivered to children during the health system contacts. After the accessories are given to the children and marked on their children’s health cards, it will help keep track of the defaulters who did not receive the second dose of the supplements. The children who received the Vitamin A supplementation were given a package of interventions such as deworming tablets, immunization, and mosquito nets.
In the meeting, we developed a suggested supplementation scheme for infants who are immunocompromised. The infants between the age of 6-11 received a dose of 100,000 IU of Vitamin A one dose. Children within the age bracket of 12-59 received a dose of 200,000 IU of Vitamin A, where the amount was administered every 4-6 months. To ensure quality assurance of Vitamin A supplements, one will ensure that they are well packaged and stored in a well-ventilated and uncontaminated environment. The meeting was terminated after we had agreed.