At the initiative of the Ministry of Health and Population, national Vitamin A programme is beginning nationwide from Wednesday.

Under the programme, some 3.3 million children in age group ranging from six months to five years across the country will be administered with the Vitamin A capsules, RSS reports citing the Ministry of Health.

Similarly, of them, some 3 million people (one to five years of age) will be administered with the deworming tablets also.

The two-day programme will be launched simultaneously in all the 75 districts across the country.

According to the ministry, all necessary arrangements have been made for operating the programme from respective district health offices, public health offices, health posts, sub health posts and the local health centres with the help of local women health volunteers.

The Ministry has been running the national Vitamin A program since 2050 BS under its regular calendar with a view to reducing the child mortality rate caused by vitamin A deficiency and controlling other eye-related diseases including night blindness.

A study conducted by the UNICEF shows that the Vitamin A programme in Nepal has saved around 12,000 children from facing untimely death every year. nepalnews.com