RANGPUR, Jan 15, 2019 (BSS) – Health officials at an orientation workshop in Nilphamary today sought cooperation of mass media to make the upcoming National Vitamin A Plus Campaign successful.
Nilphamari district health administration organised the media orientation workshop at the conference room of the Civil Surgeon office before the upcoming National Vitamin A Plus Campaign (second round)- 2019 to be held on January 19 next.
The campaign will be conducted under the auspices of the Public Health and Nutrition Institute and National Nutrition Services under the Ministry of Health and Family Planning and assistance of the UNICEF.
Civil Surgeon of Nilphamari Ranjeet Kumar Barman briefed the journalists on preparations to make the National Vitamin A Plus Campaign for the 2,97,965 under five babies (6 to 59 months) successful in the district on January 19 next.
Medical Officer of the Nilphamari Civil Surgeon Office Dr Asad Alam, Senior District Health Education Officer Abdul Kader Sohel also addressed the workshop participated by journalists from the print, electronic and online media.
The civil surgeon said one dose of one lakh unit Vitamin A Blue capsule will be administered among 29,059 babies aged between 6 and 11 months and on dose two lakh unit Vitamin A Red capsule among 2,68,906 babies aged between 12 and 59 months.
“A total of 3,220 health and family welfare assistants and volunteers and 183 supervisors will work at 660 centres in the district and special steps will be taken at the bus stands and other places to make the campaign a success,” he said.
Ranjeet said the campaign would be conducted to reduce death risks of babies, save them from blindness caused by Vitamin A shortage through disseminate knowledge among people about nutritional aspects for children.
“Vitamin A effectively prevents mal-nutritional blindness, especially night blindness, bitot’s spots and corneal lesions,” he said and narrated the significance for continuation of Vitamin A supplementation for healthier growth of the children.