UNICEF supplies vitamin A for next week’s nationwide campaign after government misses procurement deadline

Nepal's Ministry of Health and Population has once again turned to UNICEF for crucial vitamin A supplements, highlighting a persistent challenge in the country's public health procurement system. The failure to procure these essential supplements in time for the nationwide campaign, scheduled for April 19 and 20, has necessitated emergency support from the UN agency, which has supplied 2.5 million doses.

This reliance on external aid is not an isolated incident. Health authorities have repeatedly missed procurement deadlines for these vital supplements, which are part of a national priority program aimed at protecting millions of children under five. Lila Bikram Thapa, chief of the nutrition section at the Family Welfare Division, cited issues with the procurement process and pricing as reasons for the delay. The standard international bidding process for vitamin A supplements takes at least six months, a timeline that authorities have struggled to meet.

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Due to issues with the procurement process and pricing, we could not purchase vitamin A supplements on time.

The vitamin A supplementation and deworming campaign is a cornerstone of Nepal's child health strategy, administered twice a year to children aged six months to five years. Despite its critical importance, the logistical challenges in timely procurement continue to pose a threat to its consistent implementation. The upcoming campaign will involve over 52,000 female community health volunteers and 15,000 health workers to reach approximately 2.3 million children with vitamin A and two million with deworming tablets.

While the article notes that vitamin A deficiency is no longer a major public health concern in Nepal due to these sustained campaigns, the recurring procurement failures underscore systemic issues. These campaigns have been instrumental in significantly reducing child mortality and eliminating night blindness. The high coverage rate, exceeding 90 percent, is a testament to the program's effectiveness when implemented smoothly. However, the repeated need to depend on UNICEF raises questions about the efficiency and reliability of the domestic procurement mechanisms, potentially jeopardizing the continuity of these life-saving interventions.

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UNICEF has provided us with 2.5 million doses of vitamin A at our request.