RAJSHAHI, Dec 12, 2017 (BSS) – Health experts here called for making forthcoming National vitamin ‘A’ plus campaign successful for building a healthy nation stressing vitamin A supplement is essential for the normal functioning of the visual system.
They were addressing a divisional level advocacy and planning meeting here today to make December 23 National vitamin ‘A’ plus campaign-2017 (second round) successful.
Office of the Divisional Director of Health organised the meeting at its conference hall in association with Institute of Public Health Nutrition (IPHN) and National Nutrition Services.
Administrative officials, Civil Surgeons and Deputy Directors of Department of Family Planning and other stakeholders from eight districts and local level government and non-government officials and others concerned were present at the meeting.
During his keynote presentation Dr Abdul Alim, Deputy Programme Manager of IPHN, gave an overview of the meeting and aspects of vitamin-A supplementation.
Additional Commissioner of Rajshahi division Aminul Islam addressed the meeting as the chief guest with Divisional Director of Health Dr Sobhan in the chair.
Superintendent of Police Abdus Salam, Additional Chief Nutritionist Dr Sultana Nahid, Deputy Director of Department of Information Md Shamsuzzaman, Divisional Director of Islamic Foundation Mahbub Alam and Chief Health Officer of Rajshahi City Corporation Dr Anjuman Ara Begum also spoke.
Dr Abdul Alim said the vitamin ‘A’ plus supplement is helpful for reducing the severity of illnesses with pneumonia and diarrhea.
Referring to the WHO guideline, he said that the children should be administered vitamin A supplement at the age of six months but unfortunately, children aged between 6 and 9 months in the country do not get the supplement despite various interventions.
Dr Abdus Sobhan urged the district-level officials to organize orientation for volunteers at union-level one week before the campaign so that they could do the work properly and effectively.