WHO, UNICEF assure Vitamin A, de-worming medication safe
Wednesday, 10 June 2009
The World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF offices in Bangladesh have reassured parents that Vitamin A supplementation and de-worming tablets are safe, reports UNB.
The assurance came following the reported deaths of two children and sickness of many others in the country after children up to five years were fed Vitamin A capsule and de-worming tablets during the June 6 nationwide campaign.
In a joint statement, the WHO and UNICEF offices said Vitamin A supplementation and de-worming tablets are "effective interventions" that contribute to strengthening the health of young children.
"These interventions are recommended by both organisations. Vitamin A should be given every four to six months to children aged 12 to 59 months while de-worming tablets should be given every six months to children aged 24 to 59 months," it said.
The two UN organisations said both Vitamin A capsules and de-worming tablets (Albendazole) used during the recent Vitamin A campaign in Bangladesh were bought from approved pharmaceutical companies.
They clarified that between 2002 and 2008, Bangladesh has held eight National Immunisation Days (NIDs) and, since 2003, six Vitamin A Plus campaigns, during which millions of Bangladeshi children have received Vitamin A supplementation and de-worming tablets in the form of 'Albendazole'.
"No harmful side effects of either Vitamin A or 'Albendazole' have been reported after all these campaigns."
According to the statement, millions of children in more than 40 countries are receiving at least one Vitamin A supplement yearly very successfully.
Meanwhile, people, particularly guardians of the children who were fed Vitamin A capsule and the de-worming tablets, should not get worried about the standard of the medicines which are internationally certified and administered to children in more than 100 countries, expert physicians said Tuesday, reports UNB.
Meanwhile, Health and Family Welfare Minister AFM Ruhal Haq Tuesday informed Parliament that no child had died for taking Vitamin A capsule.
"The report that was carried in a newspaper is wrong," he said replying to a supplementary question from advocate Salma Islam.
But the minister said that after taking de-worming tablets (Albendazole) children might have headache and vomiting tendency.
"Some children had such symptoms and they are now fully well," he added.
"There's no need of getting panicked as the medicines which are given to the children (under Vitamin A plus Campaign) are internationally certified," Dr Fatima Parveen Chowdhury, director of the Institute of Public Health Nutrition (IPHN), told the news agency amid report of child sickness after taking the nourishing doses.
The assurance came following the reported deaths of two children and sickness of many others in the country after children up to five years were fed Vitamin A capsule and de-worming tablets during the June 6 nationwide campaign.
In a joint statement, the WHO and UNICEF offices said Vitamin A supplementation and de-worming tablets are "effective interventions" that contribute to strengthening the health of young children.
"These interventions are recommended by both organisations. Vitamin A should be given every four to six months to children aged 12 to 59 months while de-worming tablets should be given every six months to children aged 24 to 59 months," it said.
The two UN organisations said both Vitamin A capsules and de-worming tablets (Albendazole) used during the recent Vitamin A campaign in Bangladesh were bought from approved pharmaceutical companies.
They clarified that between 2002 and 2008, Bangladesh has held eight National Immunisation Days (NIDs) and, since 2003, six Vitamin A Plus campaigns, during which millions of Bangladeshi children have received Vitamin A supplementation and de-worming tablets in the form of 'Albendazole'.
"No harmful side effects of either Vitamin A or 'Albendazole' have been reported after all these campaigns."
According to the statement, millions of children in more than 40 countries are receiving at least one Vitamin A supplement yearly very successfully.
Meanwhile, people, particularly guardians of the children who were fed Vitamin A capsule and the de-worming tablets, should not get worried about the standard of the medicines which are internationally certified and administered to children in more than 100 countries, expert physicians said Tuesday, reports UNB.
Meanwhile, Health and Family Welfare Minister AFM Ruhal Haq Tuesday informed Parliament that no child had died for taking Vitamin A capsule.
"The report that was carried in a newspaper is wrong," he said replying to a supplementary question from advocate Salma Islam.
But the minister said that after taking de-worming tablets (Albendazole) children might have headache and vomiting tendency.
"Some children had such symptoms and they are now fully well," he added.
"There's no need of getting panicked as the medicines which are given to the children (under Vitamin A plus Campaign) are internationally certified," Dr Fatima Parveen Chowdhury, director of the Institute of Public Health Nutrition (IPHN), told the news agency amid report of child sickness after taking the nourishing doses.