Johannesburg - The City of Johannesburg is to offer de-worming medication, catch-up immunization and administer Vitamin A to children under the age of 12 during national Child Health Week.
The City of Joburg's Health Department spokesperson, Nkosinathi Nkabinde, urged parents to sign the consent forms that will be sent to the day-care centres and pre-primary schools to give the health personnel permission to administer these services at certain campaign posts.
"Each child's Road to Health Chart / Clinic card will be checked at each campaign post to ascertain if the child is up-to-date with immunizations, if any immunization was missed, then it will be given at the post and be recorded on the card after administration," Mr Nkabinde said.
He said that all children visiting the posts will be assessed for their nutritional status, and measurement of the mid upper arm circumference will be the method that will be used during the campaign.
Children requiring interventions will be referred appropriately, Mr Nkabinde said.
Vitamin A will be administered to administration to children 12 to 59 months. It is essential for eye health and the proper functioning of the immune system thus reducing the severity of childhood illnesses.
De-worming tablets will be given to children 12 to 59 months for the control and reduction of diseases that accompany worm infestation.