Vitamin A Supplementation: May 2022 Campaign Meets Expectations

As part of the first round of the National Polio Vaccination Days that held in Cameroon from May 13-15, 2022, Vitamin A supplements were administered to babies aged 6-59 months. Also targeted were women who had just given birth. They needed to take the supplement for 8 weeks to enrich their breast milk with Vitamin A. 
Like it has been the case since 1998, the Canadian government, through Global Affairs Canada, has financed this year’s acquisition of Vitamin A capsules and the cost of distributing and administering them in Cameroon to the tune of 610 million FCFA. The disclosure was made at a press briefing in Yaounde on Wednesday, May 4, 2022 by Nankap Martin, nutritionist with the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF Cameroon Country Office. Just before a team of journalists covered the Vitamin A administration campaign in the East Region. Nankap, on the occasion, had described the Canadian government as “one of UNICEF Cameroon’s most faithful donors.” He said the supplementation drive was informed by the fact that over 35 per cent of children less than five years old in the country suffer from Vitamin A deficiency. 
In another debriefing in Yaounde on Thursday, August 25, 2022 with journalists who covered the Vitamin A supplementation campaign, Nankap Martin said it was a huge success with 92 per cent of the target reached. With the exercise extended to four days in some localities. “Special measures were taken to reach children in sparsely populated areas and parents who are often on the move,” Nankap noted.  
However, the North West Region came tenth amongst the country’s 10 administrative regions, Nankap said. Recording 57 per cent Vitamin A administration for children aged between 6-59 months. Martin Nankap attributed the results to the ongoing armed conflict that has disrupted social life and led to the displacement of thousands of people to the other regions of Cameroon.  
According to the UNICEF nutritionist, the National Polio Vaccination Days also afforded the Ministry of Public Health and partners to distribute mosquito treated bed nets, and enlist children less than two years old without birth certificates for the issue of the vital document. As well as to deworm children. “The next national Vitamin A supplementation campaign will take place between October and November...