Lagos Set
For Vitamin ‘A’ Immunisation Round
The
Lagos State Government is to commence administration of second
doses of Vitamin ‘A’ supplementation for children, aged zero to
fifty-nine months, from the first to the fifth of December.
The Deputy Director, Family Health and Nutrition in Lagos State,
Dr. Abimbola Ajayi, said at a stakeholders meeting in Lagos,
that for Vitamin ‘A’ supplementation to achieve the intended
nutritional protection, it must be administered twice a year.
The first dose was administered in May.
She said that improving Vitamin ‘A’ status of children increases
their chances of survival.
Ajayi said the immunisation programme would also include
state-wide screening for malnutrition, de-worming and intended
to catch-up the missed group in the immunisation exercise.
The immunisation exercise is aimed at combating incidences and
severity of malnutrition and other childhood illnesses.
She said the screening for malnutrition became important after a
gloomy statement by UNICEF on the global report on child
malnutrition.
NAN/Yinka
