Malang (malangkota.go.id) – The Malang City Government (Pemkot) through the Health Service, especially health centers and integrated health posts, also helped make the Vitamin A month launched in February and August a success. The need for vitamin A must be met because its benefits are very much needed by the body.
Head of Public Health, Malang City Health Office Dra. Psi. Latifah Hanun revealed that giving vitamin A is important for children's growth and development. Giving vitamin A is one of the specific intervention services in the health sector in order to prevent stunting.
"Along with the administration of vitamin A, height, weight, and head circumference checks are also carried out for a six-monthly evaluation," said Latifah Hanun, Monday (21/2/2022).
Reported from https://kesmas.kemkes.go.id, vitamin A functions in the process of formation, production, growth of red blood cells, lymphocytes, antibodies and the integrity of epithelial cells lining the body. Vitamin A can also prevent night blindness, xerophthalmia, corneal damage and blindness. Children who lack vitamin A can be susceptible to infectious diseases such as upper respiratory tract infections, measles, and diarrhea.
The dosage of vitamin A has also been regulated. Blue capsule vitamin A (100.000 IU dose) is for babies aged 6-11 months while red capsules (200.000 IU dose) are for children aged 12-59 months. Vitamin A is provided free of charge as a vitamin fulfillment for children and toddlers. Vitamin A capsules can be obtained at health facilities such as community health centers and integrated health posts.
In the midst of this pandemic, the activity of providing vitamin A is certainly adjusted to continue to run safely by complying with health protocols. "The method of administration is at the integrated health post. Because of the pandemic, collaboration with integrated health post cadres, PKK in each RT to be given directly to registered targets," explained Hanun. (ari/ram)
