Photo : BSS

RANGPUR, Mar 12, 2025 (BSS) – Health experts here today urged local journalists to play a crucial role in creating mass awareness to make the National Vitamin A Plus Campaign-2025 on March 15 in the district a success.  
 
They made the call at a press briefing organised by the Civil Surgeon's Office at its conference room at the Old Sadar Hospital Building to inform preparations taken marking the National Vitamin A Plus Campaign -2025. 
 
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 Welfare with the support of UNICEF. 
 
Civil Surgeon Dr Shahida Sultana informed journalists that necessary preparations have been made to bring 3,57,500 under five children (6 to 59 months) in all eight upazilas and three municipalities except Rangpur city of the district under the campaign.
  
One dose of one-lakh unit Vitamin A Blue capsule would be administered to 39,422 children (6 to 11 months) and one dose of two-lakh unit Vitamin ‘A’ Red capsule to 3,18,078 lakh children (12 to 59 months) in the district.
 
“Some 4,348 volunteers, health workers and family welfare assistants will work at 1,832 outreach centres in the district except Rangpur city from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. The campaign would also be conducted at bus stands, hats, bazaars and other places,” she said.
   
She urged media workers to help make the campaign a success by creating social awareness about the nutritional aspects of Vitamin A that increases disease resistant capacities of under-five children to ensure their healthy growth.
 
She especially suggested parents to bring their babies to the outreach centres with a full stomach to feed Vitamin A capsules as immunization with an empty stomach might cause nausea. 
 
Medical Officer at the Civil Surgeon’s office Dr Md Mahinur Islam and other officials were present at the briefing.