Dhaka: The national Vitamin A plus campaign is scheduled for March 15, aiming to promote the health of children across the country, as announced in a press release by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. This initiative is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to eliminate malnutrition and ensure the well-being of all children.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, approximately 2.26 crore children, aged between 6 and 59 months, will receive Vitamin ‘A’ capsules on March 15. These will be administered at 1,20,000 permanent EPI centers nationwide. The Ministry has actively urged parents and guardians to bring their children to the nearest EPI vaccination center, community clinic, or other healthcare facilities to participate in this vital health drive.
The press release highlighted the Ministry’s relentless efforts to make healthcare more accessible, which has led to a noticeable decline in malnutrition rates and a significant reduction in child and maternal mortality in Bangladesh. The country plays a crucial role in the global nutrition leadership forum, Scaling Up Nutrition.
Historically, after gaining independence, Bangladesh faced a 4.10 percent rate of night blindness among children due to malnutrition. In response, the night blindness prevention program began in 1974, introducing vitamin ‘A’ capsules to children. This sustained effort has nearly eradicated night blindness caused by vitamin ‘A’ deficiency.
The Ministry emphasized that vitamin ‘A’ not only prevents blindness but also reduces the mortality rate of children under five by about 25 percent. Many children are unable to consume sufficient breast milk or vitamin A-rich foods, leading to deficiencies and related health issues. Administering vitamin ‘A’ capsules is a cost-effective and quick solution to this problem.
To date, the National Vitamin A Plus Campaign has successfully provided vitamin A to 98 percent of children twice a year, reducing blindness due to deficiency to less than 1 percent and lowering child mortality rates. The Ministry aims to sustain these achievements by continuing the campaign for children aged 6 to 59 months.
The Ministry of Health reiterated that children are the nation’s future, yet many suffer from malnutrition, with blindness posing a severe challenge for families. By receiving vitamin A capsules twice annually, children can significantly reduce the risk of blindness and improve their immunity, thereby lowering child mortality rates.