Another vitamin capsule-related death reported

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Another child died reportedly from complications after taking Vitamin-A capsule and de-worming tablet in Munshiganj Sunday night as several hundred children fell sick across the country following a nationwide nourishment drive, reports UNB.
Piar Hossain of Ballalbari area in Sadar Upazila of Munshiganj district claimed his daughter Priya Akhter (6) fell sick after having the Vitamin-A capsule and de-worming tablet and died Sunday night.
According to media reports, 11-year-old Habib, son of Nizam Fakir, died in Doulatdia area under Goalanda Upazila in Rajbari district after taking the capsule and tablet early Sunday.
Reports reaching the news agency desk said a few hundred children fell sick in the last two days in Narayanganj, Faridpur, Magura, Chandpur, Jhenidah and Rajbari after taking the government-supplied Vitamin-A capsules and de-worming tablets. Nearly 1,000 children fell sick in Narayanganj alone.
Panic gripped the parents of children who took the capsules and tablets, manufactured by a famous Canadian company, during the Vitamin-A-Plus campaign.
Meanwhile, the government authorities urged guardians not to panic as the Vitamin-A capsules and de-worming tablets fed to the babies were "safe".
"There is no question or doubt about its standard and expiry date," Health Minister AFM Ruhul Haque said Sunday to pacify all concerned as reports trickled in Dhaka about mass child sickness after taking the nourishing doses.
According to the authorities, UNICEF directly supplied the de-worming tablets and their expiry date is 2010. The tablets were also certified by World Health Organisation (WHO).