The first of the two-day national vitamin A and deworming campaigns were held all across the country successfully. There were concerns that the ongoing indefinite strike and heavy political turmoil would pose problems for transport of medical supplies. "The results were encouraging," said Krishna Acharya from Nepal Technical Assistance Group, a local NGO involved in implementing the national programme, which is also supported by international agencies UNICEF, AUSAID, CIDA and USAID.Every year, the campaign helps to prevent deaths of over 12,000 Nepali children of under five years old. Around 3.7 million children will receive the vitamin tablets and around 3.3 million will be given deworming pills. "The success of the campaign shows that the conflict poses no obstacle to children's health," says Bimala Budathoki, a female health care volunteer in Manamaiju where she has been administering vitamins for the last 10 years.