RANGPUR, July 13, 2018 (BSS) – Health officials at a press briefing have
sought cooperation of the mass media to make the National Vitamin ‘A’ Plus
Campaign (First Round), July 14, 2018 successful in the district tomorrow
(Saturday).
The district health administration organised the event at conference room
of the Civil Surgeon in the city for the journalists from the print,
electronic and online media on Thursday afternoon.
The campaign will be conducted under the auspices of the Public Health and
Nutrition Institute (PHNI) and National Nutrition Services (NNS) under the
Ministry of Health and Family Planning and assistance of the UNICEF.
Civil Surgeon Dr Abu Md Zakirul Islam briefed the journalists on the
preparations to make the National Vitamin ‘A’ Plus Campaign (First Round),
July 14, 2018 for around 3.54-lakh under five babies (6 to 59 months)
successful in the district.
Deputy Civil Surgeon Dr Abdul Mokaddem Hossain, District Coordinator of
Nutrition International Langkesh Barman, Medical Officer Dr Mahbub Hossain
also addressed.
The Civil Surgeon said one dose of one lakh unit Vitamin A Blue capsule
would be administered to the babies aged between 6 and 11 months and one dose
two lakh unit Vitamin ‘A’ Red capsule to the babies aged between 12 and 59
months.
“Around 4,000 health and family welfare assistants, supervisors, health
workers and volunteers will work at 1,832 centres allover the district and
special steps will be taken at the bus stands and other places to make the
campaign a success,” he said.
While answering questions, the Civil Surgeon said the campaign would be
conducted to reduce death risks of babies, save them from blindness caused by
Vitamin ‘A’ shortage and disseminate knowledge among people about nutritional
aspects for the children.
“Vitamin ‘A’ effectively prevents mal-nutritional blindness, especially
night blindness, bitot’s spots and corneal lesions,” he said narrating the
importance for continuation of Vitamin A supplementation for healthier growth
of the children.
The Civil Surgeon called upon the journalists for playing their due role
in creating public awareness to make the Saturday’s Vitamin ‘A’ Plus Campaign
from 8 am to 4 pm successful.