KATHMANDU: Around 2.3 million children aged up to 59 months were included in the National Vitamin ‘A’ Programme launched by the Ministry of Health and Population on April 19-20.

Under the programme, children below five were administered with the Vitamin ‘A’ capsules and deworming tablets.

Children aged six to 59 months were given the Vitamin ‘A’ capsules and those who had 12 months were also provided with deworming tablets, according to Ministry information officer Dr Bhakta KC.

Similarly, 800,000 children aged six to 23 months were provided with Balvita, a Vitamin supplement. The programme aims to prevent potential eyesight problems among children, strengthen their immunity, reduce the malnutrition risk and the child mortality rate.

Around 50,000 women community health volunteers and 15,000 local-level health workers were mobilised to implement the programme. This initiative has been part of the government’s national health calendar since 2059 BS and is conducted twice a year: in April and October.