DHAKA, June 20, 2019 (BSS) – The national Vitamin ‘A’ plus campaign will
be observed across the country June 22 where children, aged between six
months to 59 months, will be fed Vitamin A capsules under the nationwide
campaign on the day.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleaque said this while
briefed the press at the conference room of the Ministry at Secretariat.
Secretary Asadul Islam and Director General of Health Services Prof Dr
Abul Kalam Azad were present among others.
Zahid said health workers and volunteers will feed the vitamin-A Plus
capsules from 1.20 lakh permanent and 20 thousand mobile centres across the
country which will remain open from 8 am to 4 pm.
He said mobile centres will be set up at bus stops, airports and launch
terminals and other transport points to administer the children vitamin-A
plus capsules.
The Minsiter said, “We want to prevent childhood blindness by
administering vitamin-A plus capsule. Blindness problem has been reduced
significantly in the country through launching vitamin A plus campaign. Less
than one percent children now suffer from blindness for vitamin A
deficiency.”
Among the total children, around 25 lakh aged between six to 11 months
will be fed one blue colour Vitamin-A capsule each, while around 1.94 crore
babies aged between 12 to 59 months would be fed red color capsules.
At least two trained volunteers would work at each centre.
The parents are requested to bring their children with full stomach to
be fed the Vitamin-A capsule. Children should not be fed the capsule
forcefully or while they are crying. Children aged below six months or more
than five years or with any kind of sickness should not be fed the capsules.
The rate of children’s night-blindness in the country has come down
below one per cent following the distribution of Vitamin A-plus capsules
regularly.
Feeding of Vitamin-A capsule not only keep the children safe from night-
blindness, it also increases their immune system, keep their eyesight
perfect, bring down the child mortality rate and ensure their natural growth
among other benefits.
“We are feeding vitamin A plus capsule two times a year as it deposits
up to six months in children’s body. Alongside having vitamin A plus capsule,
guardians should feed their children natural foods including vegetable and
fish to avoid vitamin A deficiency,” he added.