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POLICIES & STRATEGIES
Vitamin A supplements are used to test as well as prevent vitamin A deficiency (VAD). Eye problems caused by VAD may begin or worsen when a child is sick, and can cause blindness. Vitamin A supplements can reduce the duration of disease, its severity and complications, as well as prevent blindness.
Vitamin A capsules for treatment should be given to:
Children with xerophthalmia, and children living in the same household or community as children with xerophthalmia.
Children with measles.
Children with severe malnutrition.
DOSES & SCHEDULES
Target Groups:
All sick children 0-59 months of age can receive vitamin A according to schedules shown in the following summary table.
Screening:
Check the age of the child, diagnosis, and how much vitamin A should be given. To determine the child's age, use documents such as birth certificate, health card, or growth chart. If these are not available, use a local events calendar or date of a local festival or event when the child was born to determine age. You can also use the child's ability to sit up and hold his/her head upright (these infants are usually about 6 months or older) and to stand or walk (these children are usually about 12 months), if there is no other indication of age.
Administering Vitamin A Capsules To Sick Children
Check the dosage or type of capsules available (Therapeutic Dosages: 100,000 IU or 200,000 IU).
When giving vitamin A, cut open a capsule at the narrow end. Squeeze the correct amount of vitamin A into the child's mouth. If a child spits up most of the vitamin A immediately, give one more dose (but record only a single dose). Do not ask a child to swallow a capsule. It is preferable that the child receive the dose from the health worker, although in some cases it may be given to the mother to be given later. Throw away any half-used capsule - it is too messy to try and use again.
Discard all used vitamin A capsules in a plastic bag or container. All used capsules should be disposed of safely (buried or burned), in order to avoid children or animals accidentally ingesting the capsules.
Record the treatment with vitamin A on the child's "Health" card.
Health Messages For Caretakers
The child is receiving vitamin A today.
Vitamin A helps the child recover from infections, and prevents blindness.
Return to the health center with the child for any follow-up doses the child may need.
Give some ญญ________ or ________ (name of locally available vitamin A rich foods) to the child every day or every other day.
Staff Training
Health workers who administer vitamin A to treat sick children need the following:
The importance of vitamin A and understand vitamin A deficiency.
What illnesses should be treated with vitamin.
Recommended doses for each age/target group.
How to verify age group (less than 6 months, 6-11 months, and 12-59 months).
The number of drops to give each age group and disease condition.
How to recognize the type of capsules of vitamin A (100,000 IU or 200,000 IU) available.
Storage and handling of vitamin A.
How to administer vitamin A.
How to record doses in child's health or immunization card and health facility tally sheet/register.
How to effectively deliver health education messages and counsel mothers.
Supervisors need the above plus:
Know side effects/safety, and effectiveness of vitamin A supplementation.
Know how to calculate percentage of sick children treated appropriately with vitamin A.
Understand the purpose of supervision.
Monitoring and Supervision
Vitamin A treatment of sick children should also be recorded on the health facility's tally sheet or register.
Vitamin A treatment given to sick children should be written in the child's "Health" card.
Examples from Burkina Faso. Click on either example for downloadable version.
The reasons for recording these doses are:
To make sure that excess vitamin A is not given.
To estimate coverage (through coverage surveys or exit interviews).
Vitamin A Therapy: Giving Vitamin A To A Child With Measles
LINKS
Prescription for Nutritional Healing: The A-To-Z Guide To Supplements
-- by Phyllis A. Balch, James F. Balch
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