The National Vitamin ‘A’ Plus Campaign will be held simultaneously across Bangladesh tomorrow. The government aims to provide Vitamin ‘A’ capsules to approximately 24 million children aged 6 months to 59 months. The campaign will operate from 8 am to 4 pm.
A child-to-child searching activity will be conducted in 714 wards of 290 unions in 58 upazilas across 12 districts in remote areas for four days following the campaign.
Campaign Details
Organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and UNICEF Bangladesh, the campaign will distribute two types of capsules based on age. Children aged 6 to 11 months will receive one blue capsule, while those aged 12 to 59 months will receive one red high-potency Vitamin ‘A’ capsule.
These capsules will be distributed through about 120,000 permanent centers and 500 temporary centers in crowded places such as bus terminals and ferry ghats. Trained health workers and volunteers will be involved in the distribution.
Importance of the Campaign
State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr. MA Muhit emphasized the importance of the campaign, stating that it is crucial for children's healthy growth, increased immunity, and reducing the risk of malnutrition-related deaths.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain will inaugurate the campaign at a function at Abu Sayeed Convention Centre in Shahbagh. State Minister Dr. MA Muhit and Prime Minister's Special Assistant Dr. SM Ziauddin Haider will also be present.
Implementation and Monitoring
Local members of parliament (MPs) will inaugurate the campaign at district and upazila levels alongside local administration. Field workers and volunteers will implement the campaign at the grassroots level.
Civil Surgeons and Upazila Health and Family Planning Officers will monitor the campaign at the local level. The ministry has instructed officials to complete monitoring work at the field level.
Ahead of the campaign, Minister Sakhawat Husain urged everyone to work sincerely to ensure its success. He also called on parents to ensure that all children aged 6 months to 5 years are fed Vitamin ‘A’ capsules by visiting the nearest campaign center between 8 am and 4 pm on the day of the campaign.
