Vitamin A Supplementation, Deworming Tablet & Baal Vita Distribution Campaign
Guideline for Vitamin A Supplementation, Deworming Tablet & Baal Vita Distribution Campaign 2077
Program Overview
Vitamin A Program: Nepal Government has initiated National Vitamin A Program (NVAP) in 1993 to improve Vitamin A status of the children aged 6‐59 months and reduce child mortality. This program has been recognized as a global success story of public health interventions with consistent coverage over 85 percents. It initially covered 8 districts and was scaled up nationwide by 2002. FCHVs distribute the capsules to the targeted children twice a year through a campaign-style activity.Biannual deworming tablets distribution: Family Welfare Division, DoHS has been implemented biannual deworming tablets distribution to the children aged 12-59 months aiming to reduce childhood anaemia with control or parasitic infestation through public health measures. This activity is integrated with biannual Vitamin A supplementation to the children aged 6-59 months, which takes place nationally in every ward on first week of Baisakh and Kartik each year. Deworming to the target children was initiated in few districts during the year 2000 integrating with biannual Vitamin A supplementation and with gradual scaling-up, the program was successfully implemented nationwide by the year 2010.
Micronutrient powder (Baal Vita) distribution program: Infant and young child feeding program is linked with the distribution of micronutrient powder (Baal Vita) in 42 districts to reduce the chronic malnutrition and stunting among for children aged 6-23 months in Nepal.
Government’s initiations to control of vitamin A deficiency in Nepal
- The biannual supplementation of high dose vitamin A capsules to 6-59 month olds.
- Postpartum vitamin A supplementation for mothers within 42 days of delivery.
- Strengthen implementation of vitamin A treatment protocol for severe malnutrition, persistent diarrhoea, measles and xerophthalmia.
- Nutrition education to promote dietary diversification and consumption of vitamin A rich foods.
- Ensuring the availability of vitamin A capsules at health facilities.
- Increase awareness of importance of vitamin A supplementation.
- The biannual distribution of vitamin A capsules to 6 to 59-month olds through FCHVs.
- Advocate for increased home production, consumption and preservation of vitamin A rich foods.
- Strengthen the use of the vitamin A Treatment protocol.
Nutrition programmes implemented by FWD Nutrition Section (1993–2018)
Nationwide programmes
- Growth monitoring and counselling
- Prevention and control of iron deficiency anaemia (IDA)
- Prevention, control and treatment of vitamin A deficiency (VAD)
- Prevention of iodine deficiency disorders (IDD)
- Control of parasitic infestation by deworming
- Mandatory flour fortification in large roller mills.
- Maternal, Infant, and Young Children Nutrition (MIYCN) programme
Scale-up programmes:
- Comprehensive Nutrition Specific Interventions
- Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM)
- Micronutrient Powder (MNP) distribution linked with infant and young child feeding(IYCF)
- School Health and Nutrition Programme
- Vitamin A supplementation to address the low coverage in 6–11 months olds
- Multi-sector Nutrition Plan (MSNP)
Vitamin A Supplementation and Deworming Tablet Distribution Campaign 2077
Information was collected from various documents, reports and government publications.
Recommended Citation: Public Health Update.Vitamin A Supplementation, Deworming Tablet & Baal Vita Distribution Campaign [Internet]. [cited 2020 Jul 3]. Pokhara. Nepal. Available from: https://www.publichealthupdate.com/vitamin-a-supplementation-deworming-tablet-baal-vita-distribution-campaign/
Health Organization Profiles
- The Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), Nepal
- Department of Drug Administration (DDA), Ministry of Health and Population
- Department of Health Services (DoHS), Ministry of Health and Population
- Department of Ayurveda and Alternative Medicine (DoAA)
- Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, Department of Health Services
- Family Welfare Division (FWD), Department of Health Services
- National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL)
- Management Division, Department of Health Services
- Province Health Directorate, Ministry of Social Development (MoSD)
