RANGPUR, Sept 20, 2020 (BSS) – Rangpur City Corporation (RpCC) will immunize over 1.26 lakh under-five age group babies with Vitamin A Plus capsules in the National Vitamin A Plus Campaign -2020 on Saturday next.
Mayor of Rangpur Mostafizar Rahman Mostafa today disclosed the information at an orientation cum planning meeting held at the hall room of RpCC to make the National Vitamin A Plus Campaign -2020 on September 26next a success in the city.
The Health Department of RpCC will conduct the campaign under auspices of the Public Health and Nutrition Institute (PHNI) and National Nutrition Services under the Ministry of Health and Family Planning Welfare with UNICEF assistance.
With Chief Executive Officer of RpCC Ruhul Amin Miah in the chair, Civil Surgeon Dr. Herambo Kumar Roy and Deputy Programme Manager of PHNI Dr. Manjurul Al Morshed addressed the event as special guests.
Chief Medical Officer of RpCC Dr. Kamruzzaman Ibne Taz discussed the necessity of Vitamin A supplementation for under-five babies to prevent mal-nutritional blindness, night blindness, bitot’s spots and corneal lesions and increased disease resistance capacity.
“Vitamin A Plus capsules have no side effect in general and parents must not be afraid if their babies would show vomiting tendencies after taking the capsule and, if any, they should contact health officials concerned immediately,” Dr. Taz added.
Mayor Mostafa said 634 volunteers under supervision of 75 supervisors and eight satellite monitoring teams will provide Vitamin A Plus Capsules at 295 outreach centres in all 33 wards of the city from 8 am to 5 pm on Saturdaynext.
Some 19,283 babies (6-11 months) and about 1.07 lakh (12-59 months) will be administered with one dose of one lakh unit Vitamin A Plus Blue capsule and one dose of two lakh unit of Vitamin A Red capsule each respectively.
“Special steps have been taken to ensure administering of Vitamin A capsules to the under-five babies at bus stands, rail stations and other places in the city,” Mostafa said, and called upon everyone to make the campaign successful.