Vitamin A plus campaign to feed 20m children
Friday, 5 June 2009
The government will conduct a national vitamin A plus campaign Saturday (June 6) with a view to feeding more than 20 million children aged 1 to 5 years lifesaving Vitamin A capsule and around 19 million children aged 2 to 5 years de-worming tablet, reports UNB.
Addressing a press conference at the Bangladesh Secretariat Thursday Health Secretary Sheikh Altaf Ali said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina would formally inaugurate the programme today (Friday) at 9:00 am at her official residence at state guesthouse Jamuna.
The main theme of the National Vitamin A plus Campaign this year is 'Eat Vitamin A, Reduce Risk of Child Mortality'.
The Health Secretary urged all parents and guardians to take their children to the nearest vaccination centres to feed the Vitamin A Plus capsule for making the national campaign a success. He said that although child blindness was still not a serious problem in Bangladesh, an estimated 0.04 per cent of the children now suffered from night blindness.
Referring to a survey report, Altaf Ali said besides resisting the blindness the Vitamin A also helped prevent some 34 per cent child mortality. "It helps to increase the growth and immune power of the children."
He said some 400,000 volunteers would take part in the campaign to successfully feed vitamin capsule and anti-helmenthic tablet to children from some 140,000 centres.
Addressing a press conference at the Bangladesh Secretariat Thursday Health Secretary Sheikh Altaf Ali said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina would formally inaugurate the programme today (Friday) at 9:00 am at her official residence at state guesthouse Jamuna.
The main theme of the National Vitamin A plus Campaign this year is 'Eat Vitamin A, Reduce Risk of Child Mortality'.
The Health Secretary urged all parents and guardians to take their children to the nearest vaccination centres to feed the Vitamin A Plus capsule for making the national campaign a success. He said that although child blindness was still not a serious problem in Bangladesh, an estimated 0.04 per cent of the children now suffered from night blindness.
Referring to a survey report, Altaf Ali said besides resisting the blindness the Vitamin A also helped prevent some 34 per cent child mortality. "It helps to increase the growth and immune power of the children."
He said some 400,000 volunteers would take part in the campaign to successfully feed vitamin capsule and anti-helmenthic tablet to children from some 140,000 centres.