Kathmandu, Apr. 18 : Administration of vitamin ‘A’ capsules to the children an half year old to 6 of age kicked off today in 64 district across the country where national vitamin ‘A’ programme has been carried out phase wise by Ministry of Health, HMG.

The programme which lasts till tomorrow aims at administering vitamin ‘A’ capsules at ward level to around 2.78 million children with the help of 35,000 women volunteers.

The programme is also to impart knowledge about the natural sources of vitamin ‘A’ such as green vegetable, fruits, fishes, eggs and breast feeding.

Ministry of Health has been launching the national vitamin ‘A’ programme with the objectives of not to prevailing the vitamin ‘A’ deficiency as a problem to public health, reducing child mortality rate, preventing eye diseases by the vitamin ‘A’ deficiency and inculcating the habit of balance diets.

The programme has been carried out twice a year, once in the month of Baishakh and another in Kartik by the women volunteers in association with local people’s representatives, government offices and local non-governmental organisations.

The districts where the programme has been implemented include Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Saptari, Siraha, Dhanusa, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Routahat, Bara, Parsa, Nawalparasi, Rupendehi, Kapilvastu, Dang, Banke, Bardiya, Surkhet, Kailali, Kanchanpur, Doti, Achham, Dadeldhura, Baitadi, Bajhang, Darchula, Bajura and Kalikot.

Similarly, the programme targets to cover  Julma, Dolpa, Mugu, Humla, Parvat, Arghakhanchi, Baglung, Dailekha, Myagdi, Kaski, Lamjung, Syanja, Palpa, Manang, Mustang, Tanahu, Chitwan, Makwanpur, Ilam, Dhankuta, Terhathum, Bhojpur, Panchthar, Khotamg, Taplejung, Udaypur, Okhaldhunga, Sankhuwasabha, Solukhumbu, Pyuthan, Kathmandum Bhaktapur, Lalitpur, Nuwakot and Rasuwa districts. Usaid and unicef, Are assisting in the programme from its inception and Australian-aid from last year.