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Mysuru Children Miss Vital Vitamin A for 9 Months
2 Oct
Summary
- Two lakh children under five in Mysuru missed Vitamin A for nine months.
- Supply chain disruptions are cited as the cause of the delay.
- The shortage risks increased illness, including blindness, for vulnerable children.
In Mysuru district, a critical shortage of Vitamin A supplements has left approximately two lakh children under the age of five without the vital nutrient for the past nine months. This prolonged delay, attributed to supply chain issues, has put young children at significant risk of preventable diseases, including night blindness and weakened immunity.
The lapse in supply has strained routine immunization sessions and outreach programs. Doctors have advised caregivers to focus on dietary sources of Vitamin A. However, many families, especially those in rural and disadvantaged communities, depend heavily on government hospitals for these supplements. The inability to access them from public health centers, coupled with financial constraints for private purchases, has raised serious health concerns among activists and medical professionals.
Retired government doctor Dr. Nanjaappa emphasized the life-threatening consequences of Vitamin A deficiency, such as increased vulnerability to diarrhea, measles, and respiratory infections. This critical situation prompted calls for the immediate restoration of supplement supply. District reproductive and children officer Dr. Ahammed Sharief confirmed that the government has now released the Vitamin A supplements, which have reached the district drug storehouse and will soon be distributed to all primary health centers and government hospitals.
