Vitamin A campaign to cover 24 million children

The National Vitamin A plus Campaign will be held across Bangladesh on June 28, targeting nearly 24 million children with Vitamin A supplementation as part of efforts to prevent deficiency-related diseases and improve child health.

State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr. M A Muhit announced the programme at a press conference held at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare at the Secretariat on Thursday.

The campaign will be conducted simultaneously across the country from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm on June 28. Children who are unable to receive the capsules on the designated day will be able to obtain them the following day at their respective Upazila Health Complexes.

Health authorities have also arranged for the campaign to continue for four additional days in 58 remote upazilas across 12 districts to ensure broader coverage among children living in hard-to-reach areas.
Under the programme, children aged between six and 11 months will receive one blue Vitamin A capsule, while children aged 12 to 59 months will be given one high-potency red Vitamin A capsule.

Addressing the press conference, Dr. Muhit said Vitamin A deficiency remains a major cause of childhood blindness, including night blindness.

He noted that cases of blindness linked to malnutrition were once common in Bangladesh but have declined significantly over the past two decades due to the regular distribution of Vitamin A capsules. The state minister said all children, except those suffering from severe or complicated illnesses, are eligible to receive the capsules.

He also advised parents and guardians not to give children the capsules on an empty stomach.