to give free vitamins to all pregnant women and their newborns.
It is hoped the initiative will help give city youngsters the best start in life and help to prevent conditions such as rickets, which has made a return after being wiped out 80 years ago.
Under the previous means-tested scheme only some people were eligible for free vitamins but the new Health Start project will provide them to all expectant mums and children aged one and under.
It is part of a bigger national scheme, which bosses at NHS Southampton City have decided to launch for an initial period of 12 months.
The supplements are now available from a number of different centres across the city, including baby clinics and Sure Start children centres.
They contain the recommended daily amounts of vitamins C, D and folic acid for pregnant women and new mums and vitamins A, C and D for babies.
As reported in the Daily Echo last November, doctors in Southampton were shocked by the numbers of youngsters being diagnosed with the poverty-linked bone disease rickets, which was endemic in Victorian England.
The disease was written off in 1928 following the discovery of vitamin D but due to poor diet and lack of exposure to light, it is slowly making a return.
Youngsters will also be getting vitamin A to help growth, eyesight and healthy skin, as well as vitamin C, which is good for the immune system.
Andrew Mortimore, director of public health for NHS Southampton City, said: “The Healthy Start vitamin scheme is something I would strongly recommend to all pregnant mums and new parents.
“With this pilot scheme I hope that we are able to provide many more mums and babies with the best start in life and prevent conditions related to vitamin deficiencies such as rickets or iron deficiency anaemia, all of which are common locally.”
For more information women should speak to their midwife or health visitor.
Shoongsays...
Just give them out at McDonalds, that way there's no getting out of it & you can guarantee collection.
Just give them out at McDonalds, that way there's no getting out of it & you can guarantee collection. Shoong
Hufftersays...
The best start in life is a wanted child and a loving mother.
The best start in life is a wanted child and a loving mother. Huffter
Seeking the Truthsays...
Huffter wrote:
The best start in life is a wanted child and a loving mother. Fathers count for nothing then?
[quote][p][bold]Huffter[/bold] wrote: The best start in life is a wanted child and a loving mother.[/p][/quote]Fathers count for nothing then? Seeking the Truth
debstilhearsays...
this is just is going to engurage youngstors to get pregnunt just to get free vitomins wot about giving vitomins to peeple who realy need them like the ederly or the dying? im fed up to the black teeth of storeys like this as ive sed before please echo stop insultin our inteliegence with dribble
this is just is going to engurage youngstors to get pregnunt just to get free vitomins wot about giving vitomins to peeple who realy need them like the ederly or the dying? im fed up to the black teeth of storeys like this as ive sed before please echo stop insultin our inteliegence with dribble debstilhear
sasssays...
debstilhear wrote:
this is just is going to engurage youngstors to get pregnunt just to get free vitomins wot about giving vitomins to peeple who realy need them like the ederly or the dying? im fed up to the black teeth of storeys like this as ive sed before please echo stop insultin our inteliegence with dribble Are you any relation to Southy?
[quote][p][bold]debstilhear[/bold] wrote: this is just is going to engurage youngstors to get pregnunt just to get free vitomins wot about giving vitomins to peeple who realy need them like the ederly or the dying? im fed up to the black teeth of storeys like this as ive sed before please echo stop insultin our inteliegence with dribble[/p][/quote]Are you any relation to Southy?
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