RAJSHAHI, Feb 16, 2023 (BSS) - A total of 64,222 babies will be fed vitamin 'A' capsules in Rajshahi city during the forthcoming National Vitamin 'A' Plus Campaign-2023 scheduled to be held on February 20.

 
Of those, 8,274 babies aged between six to eleven months will be administered one blue-coloured 'A' capsule each, while another 55,948 babies from 12 to 59 months red-coloured capsule.
 
Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) authority revealed this in an advocacy and planning meeting held at the city bhaban conference hall ahead of the campaign today.
 
RCC Secretary Moshiur Rahman, Deputy Director of the Department of Social Services Hasina Momtaz, Deputy Regional Director of Bangladesh Betar Monirul Hasan and Assistant Director of the Department of Family Planning Khandaker Arifuzzaman addressed the meeting as resource persons.

During her keynote presentation, RCC Chief Health Officer Dr Anjuman Ara Begum said vitamin 'A' supplement is essential for the normal functioning of the visual system, maintenance of cell function for growth, red blood cell production, immunity and reproduction.
 
The supplementation is also important for substantial reduction of death rate caused by diarrhea and measles.
 
Besides, various problems including eyesight and night blindness could be prevented and cured through successful implementation of the campaign, Dr Dr Anjuman Ara said, adding that the vitamin 'A' plus supplement is helpful for reducing the severity and duration of illnesses associated with pneumonia and diarrhea.
 
Referring to the WHO guidelines, she said children should begin vitamin 'A' supplement at the age of six months.
 
She also said the programme will be conducted in 384 centres including 343 permanent and 41 mobile ones in the city. Some 768 health workers will remain appointed in the centres for administering the capsules properly.