A total of 7.68 lakh babies under five-year would be fed vitamin-A plus capsule in Netrakona, Khulna and Rajshahi districts during the day-long National Vitamin A plus capsules Campaign on December 12.
A total of 3.89 lakh under five-year babies would be fed vitamin-A plus capsule in the district during the day-long National Vitamin A plus capsule campaign in Netrakona district on December 12.
This was stated by Civil Surgeon (CS) of Netrakona Dr Mohammad Salim Mia at a press conference here at his official conference room on Wednesday.
In the press conference, the civil surgeon informed the journalists on the preparatory measures undertaken by the district health and family planning departments for making the national vitamin-A plus campaign successful.
The CS highlighted the necessities of feeding of the Vitamin-A plus capsules to the under-five aged babies in order to prevent their malnutrition and blindness, especially night blindness side by side strengthening their immune system and ensuring their healthier growth.
He informed that a total of 4,284 health and family planning workers will have to be engaged to feed vitamin-A plus capsule at 2,142 centers under 86 unions and two municipalities of the district during 8am to 4pm on December 12 without any break.
A total of 40,500 babies (6-11 months) will be fed one dose of one lakh units of blue colored vitamin A plus capsules and 3,48,500 babies (12-59 months) will be fed one dose of two lakh units of red colored vitamin A plus capsule across the district, the CS added.
Deputy Civil Surgeon Dr Avijit Louha, medical officer Dr Faria Ajmain Chuti and member secretary of Netrakona Press Club Advocate Habibur Rahman addressed the press conference.
Khulna Correspondent reports: Khulna Civil Surgeon office has completed all preparations to immunise over 3.14 lakh children aged between six months to 59 months with Vitamin A plus capsule under the National Vitamin A plus capsule Capsule Campaign on December 12.
Khulna Civil Surgeon office disclosed the information on Wednesday at an orientation workshop with local journalists at Khulna School Health Clinic to make the National Vitamin A plus capsule Campaign Day-2023 a success.
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 Welfare with the assistance of UNICEF.
Chaired by Civil Surgeon Dr Sazibur Rahman, the meeting was addressed, among others, by Chief Health Officer of Khulna City Corporation (KCC) Swapon Kumar Halder, Regional officer of PID S M Humayn Kabir, Medical Officer of Civil Surgeon Office Dr Sadia Monwara Usha and District Health Superintendent Jayanta Nath Chakraborty.
Dr Sazibur Rahman said a large number of volunteers and monitoring teams will provide Vitamin A plus capsule at 1,641 outreach centres in all nine upazilas including two municipalities and a metropolitan, of the district from 8 am to 4 pm on the day.
"Around 37,491 babies (6-11 months) and 2, 76,981 babies (12-59 months) will be fed one dose of Vitamin A Plus capsule respectively," he said.
"Special measures will be taken to feed vitamin A capsules to under-five babies at bus stands, rail stations and other places to make the campaign a complete success in the district," he added.
Rajshahi Correspondent adds: A total of 65,205 babies will be fed vitamin 'A' capsules in Rajshahi city during the forthcoming National Vitamin 'A' Plus Campaign-2023 scheduled to be held on December 12.
Of those, 8,910 babies aged between six to 11 months will be fed one blue-coloured 'A' capsule each while another 56,295 babies from 12 to 59 months will be fed one red-coloured capsule.
Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) authority revealed this in an advocacy and planning meeting held at the city bhaban Conference Hall ahead of the campaign on Monday.
Divisional Director of Health Dr Anwarul Kabir and Civil Surgeon Dr Abu Sayeed Muhammad Faruque addressed the meeting as chief and special guests respectively with RCC Panel Mayor Nizam Ul Azim in the chair.
RCC Secretary Mobarak Hossain, deputy regional director of Bangladesh Betar Monirul Hassan, Deputy Director of the Department of Family Planning Dr Kustary Amina Queen and Child Specialist Dr Ali Mustafiz also spoke on the occasion.
During her keynote presentation, RCC Chief Health Officer Dr Anjuman Ara Begum said vitamin 'A' supplement is essential for the normal functioning of the visual system, maintenance of cell function for growth, red blood cell production, immunity and reproduction.
The supplementation is also important for substantial reduction of the death rate caused by diarrhea and measles.
Besides, various problems including eyesight and night blindness could be prevented and cured through successful implementation of the campaign, Dr Dr Anjuman Ara said, adding that the vitamin 'A' plus supplement is helpful for reducing the severity and duration of illnesses associated with pneumonia and diarrhoea.
Referring to the WHO guidelines, she said children should begin vitamin 'A'supplement at the age of six months.
She also said the programme will be conducted in 384 centres including 343 permanent and 41 mobile in the city. Some 768 health workers will remain appointed in the centres for administering the capsules properly.
