The National Vitamin ‘A’ Plus Campaign is going to be held next Saturday (June 1). Vitamin A capsules will be given to about 2.2 million children aged 6-59 months in this day-long program.
This information was given in a press conference organized by the Department of Health at Mohakhali in the capital on Thursday (May 30).
The health department has advised to bring the child to the health center with a full stomach while feeding the capsules. However, this program will be held at a later date in some coastal areas affected by Cyclone Remal and some flood affected areas in Sylhet.
At this time, it was informed that about 2.7 million children aged 6-11 months will be fed blue capsules and 1 crore 95 million children aged 12-59 months will be fed red capsules. About 240 thousand volunteers and 40 thousand health workers were supposed to serve in the feeding of these capsules in about 120 thousand centers. However, 1,224 centers will remain closed due to extensive damage to the coast due to Cyclone Remal. This program will be held later in these centers.
In the press conference, Director General of Health Department Professor Dr. Abul Basar Mohammad Khurshid Alam said, ‘We conduct vitamin A campaign twice a year. We have undertaken this program next Saturday (June 1).’
He said, ‘We eat two types of capsules. Children aged 6-11 months will be given blue colored capsules and children aged 12-59 will be given red colored capsules. But children should not feed it on empty stomach. The capsule should be cut and chipped and placed in the child’s mouth. However, if the child cries a lot or has difficulty breathing, it cannot be fed.
Khurshid Alam said, ‘Many works have already been disrupted due to the impact of Cyclone Remal in the coastal districts. If they can do local management in all those places, they will do it with the whole country. But if not possible or when they can, they will. Besides, several places in Sylhet are also flooded. Due to this, several areas of Sylhet and Sunamganj may not come under this program now. Apart from this, it will run all over the country.’
Explaining the benefits of vitamin A capsules, he said, ‘Taking vitamin A increases the nutrition and normal growth of the child. In addition, comorbidities, co-morbidities and mortality can be reduced. Vitamin A also helps in reducing diseases like measles, diarrhea and pneumonia.