Manaus City Hall offers vitamin A supplements for children up to 4 years of age
In the midst of its methods to make sure the wholesome improvement of children, the Municipality of Manaus continues to supply vitamin A supplementation for children aged 6 months to 5 years (4 years, 11 months and 29 days). The Municipal Health Secretariat (Semsa) gives providers in all 171 vaccine places of work within the community distributed in all districts of town.
Lia Ferreira, head of the Food and Nutrition Center at Semsa, stated the nationwide vitamin A supplementation program was established in 2005 by the Ministry of Health (MS), the physique accountable for buying the ingredient and distributing it to municipalities. Since the deficiency of this micronutrient can happen all through life, children below 5 years of age are one of essentially the most delicate teams to hurt their well being and diet.
“The 2019 National Child Food and Nutrition Survey introduced new proof to the nationwide scene in regards to the prevalence of anemia and malnutrition, and the Ministry of Health has not too long ago up to date its tips for this system. “In the North and Northeast, the age vary has been preserved, bearing in mind essentially the most susceptible teams of the inhabitants and the present meals safety scenario,” he explains.
Service
Vitamin A is saved in capsules, the liquid of which is swallowed by children, in accordance to the quantity prescribed by the physician or nurse. This micronutrient combination is run in 171 vaccine rooms at Semsa, and addresses and opening hours can be found at bit.ly/salasdevacinamanaus.
“The household can search the service straight within the UBS vaccine room, whereas the specialist evaluates the kid’s booklet, which has a spot to write down the introduction of this complement. A booklet evaluation will also be achieved throughout a session with a physician, dietician or nurse, who can refer the kid to the vaccination room with an extra prescription,” Leah detailed.
Vitamin A, Leah says, could be launched quickly after a baby turns 6 months previous and ought to be given each six months till the kid is 5 years previous. When making use of for the service, the household should current a photograph ID or beginning certificates, CPF or National Health Card (CNS) and vaccination document.
Importance
Dietitian Lia Ferreira says that taking vitamin A has many well being advantages for children, and allergy symptoms or intolerance to the complement are the one contraindications. Micronutrient deficiencies can intervene with the physique’s synthesis of different nutritional vitamins and may trigger night time blindness, amongst different circumstances.
“Vitamin A supplementation is a manner to forestall anemia brought on by micronutrient deficiency, so it’s indicated for all children between 6 months and 5 years of age. In children with anemia, the quantity prescribed by the physician is greater,” he famous.
In 2022, Semsa recorded 13,700 vitamin A supplements administered to infants aged 6 to 11 months and 51,400 supplements to children aged 1 to 4 years.
The textual content is Victor Cruz / Semsa
Photo – Anger / Semsa
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