A total of 5,26,240 children in six upazilas of Dhaka district will be administered vitamin A plus capsules on Tuesday (Dec 12). "Children aged 6-11 months will be fed blue color capsules while children aged 12-59 months will be administered red color capsules," Dr Yasmin Nahar, deputy civil surgeon of Dhaka district, told at a press briefing at the Dhaka district civil service office, local media reported.
She said, 78,082 children aged between six and 11 months will be fed blue color capsule and 4,52,158 children aged 12-36 months will be administered red color capsule.
The health ministry sources said blindness problem has reduced significantly in the country due to feeding of Vitamin A-plus capsules.
After independence of the country, over four percent children suffered from blindness for vitamin A deficiency but now only 0.01 per cent children suffer from blindness problem, it added.
A total of 40,000 health workers have been attached at 1.12 lakh centres to make the campaign a success.
Vitamin A deficiency is a serious threat to both mother and child health, they said, adding that the impact of Vitamin A deficiency is not only limited to blindness but also increases death risk by causing various diseases.
CCC to feed 5.41 lakh babies with Vitamin-A plus capsule
The Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) has set a target to feed Vitamin-A plus capsule to 5,41,000 babies aged ranging from 5 to 59 months in the city on Tuesday during the National vitamin ‘A’ plus campaign-2023. All preparations for the Vitamin-A plus campaign have been completed in the meantime. The campaign will begin from 8 a.m. in all 41 wards of the city. Of those, around 81 children aged between six months to 11 months will be given blue-coloured capsule of high powered Vitamin ‘A’ at 288 centres under 41 wards and 4,60,000 children aged between one year to five years will be given red-coloured capsule of high-powered Vitamin-A. This was disclosed by the acting Chief Medical officer of CCC Dr. Md Immam Hossain Rana at a press conference at CCC General Hospital on Monday (Dec 11).
The press conference was told that CCC Mayor Reazaul Karim Chowdhury will formally inaugurate the campaign at Chawkbazar at 10 a.m. on Tuesday (Dec 12).
Besides, 20 mobile medical team of CCC will conduct Vitamin-A plus capsule campaign at bus terminals, railway stations, launch terminals and Shah Amanat and kalurghat bridge points. Senior CCC health officers and related high officials of the CCC, among others, were present at the press conference.
Acting Chief Medical officer of CCC Dr. Md Immam Hossain Rana sought responsive cooperation from the media as it’s very important for making the Vitamin-A plus Campaign a success.
