The two-week (June 5-19) National Vitamin ‘A’ Plus Campaign has began in Chattogram in compliance with the health rules.
Director of Public Health Nutrition Institute, Mohakhali, Dhaka Prof. Dr. Nasir Uddin Mahmud, inaugurated the Vitamin ‘A’ Plus Campaign at Chattogram District level on Saturday morning by feeding Vitamin ‘A’ capsules to a child at the EPI Center at General Hospital Outdoor in Anderkilla.
Chattogram Divisional Director (Health) Dr Hasan Shahriar Kabir was the chief guest at the inauguration ceremony. The speakers said that the administration is vigilant to prevent any kind of propaganda and rumors about the Vitamin A Plus campaign. Control rooms have been kept open at district and upazila level. In addition to the Civil Surgeon's Office, special teams from the Ministry of Health are monitoring the Vitamin A Plus campaign. There is also a system to monitor these activities through mobile apps.
The guests said that Vitamin A capsules ensure child malnutrition, prevention of night blindness and normal growth of the body. Reduces all types of deaths, including measles, pneumonia, and diarrhea.
According to the District Civil Surgeon, a target has been set to provide Vitamin A capsules to a total of 790,504 children in 600 wards, 15 permanent centers, 15 mobile centers and 4,800 temporary centers in 200 unions in 15 upazilas of Chittagong district. 89,439 children aged 6-11 months will be given one blue vitamin ‘A’ capsule and 7 lakh 1 thousand 65 children aged 12-59 months will be fed one red vitamin ‘A’ capsule. Vitamin ‘A’ capsules will be fed in the upazilas from 8 am to 5 pm every day except Friday till June 19.
District Civil Surgeon Dr. Sheikh Fazle Rabbi presided over the function. UNICEF Chattogram Nutrition Officer Dr Ubasui Chowdhury, District Health Supervisor Sujan Barua, EPI Technologist KajalKanti Paul, Statistician Geetashree Das, Sanitary Inspector Sampad Dey, Health Inspector Ekramul Haque Chowdhury, Senior Tax Officers, Senior Staff Roy, Accountant Forkan Uddin were present this occasion.