JANAKPURDHAM: The ongoing agitation in the Tarai region has affected the two-day National Vitamin A Programme (NVAP) in Dhanusa this year.

Due to the protest, around 200,000 children below five years of age have been deprived of Vitamin A capsules and deworming tablets, the District Public Health Office (DPHO) said.

Under the programme, children between the age six months and five years are administered Vitamin A capsules, while children aged between one and five years are given deworming tablets.

The DPHO Chief Sachitananda Dev said that the Office failed to dispatch required medicines stored in Hetaunda in Makawanpur, Pathalaiya in Bara and Bardibas in Mahottari to respective health posts due to the protests.

"The Vitamin A Programme would continue after the Tihar festival if the tensed situation eases in Dhanusha," added Dev.

The DPHO said that a total of 199,523 children below five years of age in Dhanusa are deprived of the facility.

Meanwhile, various health facilities in the district are reeling under the shortage of medicines due to the protests.