Introduction
Children below the age of five years are in active growth and body development stages. They require enough nutrients to facilitate tissue formation and to remain healthy and effective. Therefore, they need continuous vitamin A, C and D supplementation to enhance healthy growth. Despite obtaining the necessary nutrients from consuming a balanced diet, supplementing them is essential in ensuring young ones receive optimal health. The report will evaluate the reasons for considering additional vitamins as a crucial aspect of public health promotion.
Vitamin deficiency is one of the major public health problems in many countries. According to research by the World Health Organization (WHO), over 190 million children have increased multivitamin requirements to facilitate their rapid growth and help reduce possible infections (McLean et al., 2020). Most regions in Africa and Asia have inadequate intake of nutrients; therefore, vitamin supplementation is significant in improving the well-being of young ones.
Importance of Vitamin Supplementation Health Promotion
There is a widespread deficiency of vitamins A, C, and D in most families following the nature of the balanced diet they consume. This has led to increased health risks amongst children below the age of five years (“Spring-nutrition.org.,” 2022). Several cases of morbidity and mortality have been reported in the past decades, making it a concern and a necessity for governments and health institutions to increase awareness to the public to facilitate the reduction of child death. Different countries have formulated various approaches to handle the limitation, such as initiating campaigns to enhance the delivery of multivitamins to preschool pupils. The movements promote the distribution of vitamin A, C, and D supplementation amongst babies whose caregivers cannot afford and access basic primary health care. The promotions aim at encouraging nutrient screening and immunization to ensure the lacking micronutrient is given to infants.
The campaigns and government involvements in promoting vitamin supplementation make the delivery of micronutrients cost-effective and, thus, easily affordable to all parents. Public health promotion is essential in enhancing awareness and providing necessary information that allows parents to improve their children’s health for proper mental and physical development. A routine practice of delivering nutrient supplements to young ones lowers their risk of ill health (Kassa et al., 2020). Encouraging parents’ responsiveness increases babies’ intake of required nutrients, thus ensuring young ones remain healthy and effective during their development.
Vitamin A contains fat-soluble substances essential in facilitating the differentiation of different body cells. Young ones below the age of five years have rapid cell division. Similarly, the nutrient is significant in enhancing and regulating the immune system. This makes it an anti-infectious vitamin; thus, it can lower the chances of young ones falling sick. Mortality and morbidity are significant concerns and pose a threat to the lives of infants (Aghaji et al., 2019). Promoting the knowledge about the advantages of vitamin A supplementation will enable parents to reduce their children’s vulnerability from such diseases as respiratory, eye infections, and gastrointestinal tract (Das et al., 2018). These illnesses are a challenge to the community, and their effects affect the well-being of families and children. Therefore, it is important to create public health awareness concerning retinol’s significance in curbing the infant mortality rate.
Similarly, vitamin C intake is essential for the body growth of young ones. Young ones undergo immense physical and mental development, requiring adequate micronutrients to facilitate. Ascorbic acid is significant in supporting the advancements through collagen synthesis. It promotes the enlargement of bones and the formation of soft tissues. In addition, the nutrient improves the absorption of iron into the body. Vitamin C, therefore, enhances the ability of children to walk and remain stable due to strong muscles. Promoting the awareness of vitamin C supplementation amongst parents and the public will increase the knowledge and understanding of using micronutrients during childhood (Jang et al., 2018). It is essential for public healthcare workers to impart the information to lower health risks that might come due to deficiency of ascorbic acid. Such activities would enable promoting optimal health and well-being of young ones.
When vitamin C nutrient is introduced into the body, they act as an immune-boosting agent, thus improving the immunity of toddlers. Its antioxidant nature makes it significant in maintaining overall health (Hahn et al., 2019). Therefore, continuous supplementation facilitates the development of the ability to resist illnesses. If given to parents, such information will be able to prevent diseases that can threaten children’s health by ensuring they induce more ascorbic acid micronutrients into their blood system (“Vitamin a deficiency in children – UNICEF data,” 2022). This will improve the well-being of babies and ensure they grow strong physically and mentally. Updating caregivers about the right vitamin C supplement is important in achieving all the body’s needs.
In the early stages of growth, children require vitamin D to improve and facilitate their bone development. When babies access adequate calciferol, their bodies gain the ability to absorb more calcium which enhances the strength of bones (Almeida et al., 2018). The deficiency of cholecalciferol is effective for the well-being of young ones (Dawodu et al., 2019). A child with limited access to vitamin D can easily develop diseases such as cricket. Furthermore, they can experience pain and muscle weaknesses that affect their overall health. Therefore, it is significant for parents to ensure adequate viosterol micronutrients for their babies.
Conclusion
In summary, public health promotion is essential for enhancing optimal health among infants. Providing parents with vital information and increasing public awareness to improve the well-being of their babies’ well-being can potentially lower mortality and morbidity rates. Children are in an active development stage, and their bodies undergo various cell divisions. Therefore, toddlers require high nutrient content that a balanced diet may not provide to meet health needs. Opting to supplement micronutrients such as vitamins A, C, and D is significant in ensuring babies obtain sufficient micronutrients necessary for growth. Supplementation of these vitamins allows guardians to facilitate optimal health necessary for effective development.
References
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