1.26 lakh babies to get Vitamin A plus capsules in Rangpur
RANGPUR, Sept 30, 2020 (BSS) – Rangpur City Corporation (RpCC) will immunize over 1.26 lakh under-five age group babies with Vitamin A Plus capsules during the upcoming fortnight-long National Vitamin A Plus Campaign -2020.
Panel Mayor of Rangpur Mahmudur Rahman Titu said this today at a press conference held at the hall room of RpCC to make the National Vitamin A Plus Campaign -2020 from October 4 to October 17 next 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, its Secretary Md. Rashidul Haque, Chief Medical Officer of RpCC Dr. Kamruzzaman Ibne Taz, Sanitary Inspector Abdul Kaiyum attended the event as special guests.
Dr. Kamruzzaman 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,” he added.
Panel Mayor Titu said 619 volunteers under supervision of 77 supervisors and eight satellite monitoring teams will provide Vitamin A Plus Capsules at 265 outreach centres four days in a week except Monday, Thursday and Friday in all 33 wards of the city from 8 am to 4 pm next.
Some 19,483 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.
“We have taken special steps to ensure administering of Vitamin A capsules to the under-five babies at bus stands, rail stations and other places in the city,” Titu said, and called upon everyone to make the campaign successful.