GOPALGANJ, Feb 16, 2023 (BSS) - A total of 1,94,187 children under-five age group babies will feed in five upazilas of the district with Vitamin A Plus capsules on February 20 next in the National Vitamin A Plus Campaign 2023.

Civil Surgeon of the district Dr. Niaz Mohammad told BSS this afternoon and the programme will be conducted in 67 unions and four municipalities in five upazilas of the district.

The campaign will be conducted under the auspices of the Public Health and Nutrition Institute and National Nutrition Services under the Ministry of Health and Family Planning with UNICEF assistance.

Dr SM Sakibur Rahman Medical Officer of the Civil Surgeon Office said, “We have completed all preparations to make the national vitamin "A" plus campaign a success”.
 
The civil surgeon narrated the importance of continuation of Vitamin A supplementation for the under-five babies to prevent mal-nutritional blindness, especially night blindness, bitot's spots and corneal lesions.

"Immunization of the under-five babies with Vitamin A Plus capsules is crucial for strengthening their immune system and disease resistance capacity for healthier growth," he said.

He said 3,432 health workers and volunteers under supervision of 216 supervisors will provide Vitamin A Plus capsules at 1,709 centres in five upazilas on Monday next from 8 am to 5 pm.

Civil Surgeon office sources said, under the programme, the health department has taken adequate measures to provide vitamin-A capsule (blue colour) of six months to 11 months baby to 25,118 children and vitamin-A capsule (red colour) to 1,69,069 children of 12 months to 59 months age group.

The civil surgeon especially called upon the parents to bring their babies to the outreach centres with a full stomach to feed them Vitamin A capsules as immunization with an empty stomach might cause nausea.