Around 39,761 children were covered on the first day of the mass Vitamin A administration programme in the district on Monday (October 27, 2025).
The camps, commenced on Monday, will continue up to November 1, where Vitamin A drops will be administered on all days (except Wednesday) at anganwadis and primary health centres.
In Krishnagiri, a targeted 1.4 lakh children between 6 months and 5 years of age are to be covered in the camps. The dosage entails 1 ml for infants between six months and 11 months, and 2 ml for children between 12 months and five years of age.
Vitamin A deficiency causes debilitations including dry eyes, night blindness, dry and scaly skin, stunted growth in children, compromised immune system and resultant susceptibility to infections, and delayed healing of wounds. It causes immune deficiency especially in children aged between three and five years.
Among the grave consequences includes loss of sight among children. According to the administration, citing data from a 2019 study conducted by the Word Health Organisation, over 2.50 to 5 lakh children annually lose eyesight due to the deficiency. In India, 17.54% of the population is Vitamin A deficient and 7% of the population is deficient in Tamil Nadu.
On day 1 of the targeted coverage of 35,192 children, 39,761 were administered with the drops, achieving 28% coverage, according to the administration.
Published – October 27, 2025 08:36 pm IST
