RANGPUR, June 25, 2026 (BSS) - To combat blindness, reduce child mortality and various diseases, 443,500 under-five children will be fed Vitamin 'A' Plus capsules across the district on June 28 next.
 
The health administration and Rangpur City Corporation (RpCC) authorities have completed preparations to feed Vitamin 'A' Plus capsules marking the National Vitamin 'A' Plus Campaign-2026 in the RpCC area and the district as a whole.
 
Out of this, 86,000 children will be fed Vitamin 'A' capsules at 297 outreach centers in 33 wards of RpCC and 3,57,500 children will be fed Vitamin 'A' capsules through 1,832 outreach centers in the remaining municipalities and eight upazilas of the district. 
 
RpCC Administrator Advocate Mahfuz-un-Nabi Don at a press conference held at the RpCC’s hall room today said that 666 people, including 66 supervisors, six monitoring officers and 594 health workers and volunteers, will conduct the campaign in the city. 
 
“A total of 86,000 children, including 16,629 children aged 6-11 months will be given one blue Vitamin 'A' Plus capsule each, while 69,371 children aged 12-59 months will be given one red capsule each in the RpCC area,” he said
 
He said that vitamin 'A' increases the immunity of children, ensures normal growth and development and plays an important role in preventing night blindness. 
 
He urged the parents to take their children to the nearest center at the scheduled time and feed them vitamin 'A' capsules safely by following hygiene rules. 
 
RpCC Chief Health Officer Dr Kamruzzaman Ibne Taj said, Vitamin A capsules prevent blindness in children, ensure normal growth of children, and reduce all types of mortality by 24 percent. 
 
“Of these, it reduces the mortality rate due to measles by 50 percent and the mortality rate due to diarrhea by 33 percent,” he said.
 
He said that Vitamin A capsules cannot be fed to children under six months of age, over five years of age and who have taken Vitamin A capsules within the last four months, and sick children.  
 
Earlier, Civil Surgeon Dr Shaheen Sultana at a press conference held at her office said that 3,57,500 under-five children in eight upazilas and three municipalities across the district on June 28 next.
  
“As many as 3,664 volunteers, 456 health workers and 228 first-line supervisors will be in charge at 1,832 outreach centers in eight upazilas and three municipalities to conduct the campaign,” she said.
       
The Vitamin 'A' Plus campaign will be conducted from 8 am to 4 pm on June 28 at designated vaccination centers, as well as temporary and mobile centers at markets, bus stands, riverports and railway stations.