Nepal, Nov. 5 -- The Ministry of Health and Population launches a nationwide Vitamin A supplementation and deworming campaign twice a year. This year's campaign targets a population of 2.2 million children between six months and 59 months. The target population has reportedly decreased drastically from the 3.2 million children eligible for the campaign one year ago. Public health experts say that while a decline in the number of children is understandable in view of the decreasing fertility rate, a plunge of one million a year is impossible.

For one, the mismatch in data between the national census and the one maintained by the ministry has revealed that governmental authorities do not even tally vital data. This episode of 'missing' chi...