Adriana Franzin
Agência Brasil

Brasília - The National Health Foundation (Funasa) will begin giving some 10,000 Indian children in Xavantes tribe villages in the state of Mato Grosso megadoses of vitamin A next week.

Studies show that a vitamin A supplement increases resistance to illness. Specifically, it reduces infant mortality caused by infectious diseases, such as diarrhea. It also reduces the chances of children having eye problems, such as night blindness.

The program gets assistance from the World Health Organization, Unicef and FAO.

Translator: Allen Bennett