Kananga, 3 December 2012 – A three-day awareness campaign to take vitamin A supplements and to disinfest children was launched on 27 November in Kananga, Kasaï Occidental, by the provincial Minister of Health in partnership with UNICEF.

Several local authorities as well as representatives of international organizations, including an official from the provincial Health Ministry, the mayor of Katoka district in Kananga, and the provincial Coordinator of the United Nations system in Kasaï Occidental, Alain Sitchet.

Mr. Sitchet encouraged the Health Ministry in its efforts to reduce vitamin A deficiency among children under the age of five. At the same time, he called on the parents to fully play their part by administering vitamin A supplements to their children and by disinfesting them.

Through this campaign, UNICEF intends to reach some 1,300,000 children in this age category.

Lansana Dabo/ MONUSCO