Regular physical activity saves lives … reducing the risk of the co-morbid chronic diseases and improving quality of life, physical and mental well-being, and boosting the immune system. For the first time on our continent, health care providers and policy makers acknowledge the importance of physical activity for health and development in the African region.

Physical activity in children and adolescents has been associated with significant health benefits and is critically important for their age-appropriate physical, social and emotional development needs.

Introduction

The advent of COVID-19 has seen measures that have restricted active social interactions such as the closure of gyms, parks and open leisure spaces, schools and seen increased sedentary behaviour among children and adolescents.

Vitamin A is essential for normal vision, growth, development and immune function. Insufficient vitamin A may increase children’s risk of severe or repeated infections and consequently their risk of dying. Currently vitamin A deficiency (VAD) affects an estimated 190 million preschool children in developing countries,1 and is considered to be a public health problem where more than 15% of the under-five population present with subclinical VAD (serum retinol below 20 μg/dL).2 In such countries, periodic high dose vitamin A supplementation  (VAS) is recommended to address the problem.