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.
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.
Post-partum 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.
Biannual deworming tablets distribution
Similarly, Family Welfare Division, DoHS is implementation 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.
Micro-nutrient powder (Baal Vita) distribution program
Infant and young child feeding program is linked with the distribution of micro-nutrient powder (Baal Vita) in 42 districts to reduce the chronic malnutrition and stunting among for children aged 6-59 in Nepal.
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)
Source: dohs.gov.np
