The National Government in collaboration with the County Government of Kiambu has scheduled a month-long Vitamin A Supplementation programme for Children Aged 6-59 months beginning Monday May 30 to Thursday June 30, 2022.
The vitamin A supplementation programme is scheduled to take place at ECD centres, Households and health facilities in all the sub counties
Parents have been advised to take advantage of the ongoing mass vitamin A supplementation programmes meant to control vitamin A deficiency in their children’s, as it increases the chances of survival, reduce the severity of childhood illnesses
Speaking to KNA at the Kiambu Level 5 hospital Monday, Naomie Murithi a clinical officer said “vitamin A contributes to the well-being of children hence ease the strain on health systems and hospitals”
She further encouraged parents to let their children get the vitamin as it has been tested and is safe “Supplementation with vitamin A is a safe, cost-effective and efficient means for eliminating deficiency of this vitamin and improving child survival,” said Murithi
Doctor Doughlas Mwaniki from Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital further told KNA ping night blindness, a condition in which one sees normally during the day but is unable to see clearly during the night.
Dr Mwaniki further explained that if left unattended this condition could lead to total blindness.
Sufficient amounts of vitamin A in the body also helps reduce the rate of child mortality since the immunity is boosted to fight diseases which of course threaten the young ones given they are more prone.
According to the Doctor, vitamin A can also be obtained from food such as beef, fish, eggs, milk, cheese and yoghurt.
However, due to poor eating habits and lack of balanced diet among many children, vitamin A is supplemented to give children an adequate amount required by the body to fight and prevent diseases.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has also recommended conditions where children and infants are more disposed to Human Immunodeficiency Virus, vitamin A should be supplemented in order to boost their immunity to fight the virus.
According to WHO an estimated 250,000 to 500,000 children with vitamin A deficiency become blind every year globally while half of them die within one year of losing sight.
By Grace Naishoo
