Over 5 lakh children to get vitamin A capsules in Dhaka

A total of 40,000 health workers have been attached at 1.12 lakh centres to make the campaign a success.

A total of 5,26,240 children in six upazilas of Dhaka district will be administered vitamin A plus capsules on Tuesday.

"Children aged 6-11 months will be fed blue color capsules while childrenaged 12-59 months will be administered red color capsules," Dr Yasmin Nahar, deputy civil surgeon of Dhaka district, told at a press briefing at the Dhaka district civil service office, reports BSS.

She said, "78,082 children aged between six and 11 months will be fed blue color capsule and 4,52,158 children aged 12-36 months will be administered red color capsule."

The health ministry sources said blindness problem has reduced significantly in the country due to feeding of vitamin A-plus capsules.

After independence of the country, over 4 per cent children suffered from blindness for vitamin A deficiency but now only 0.01 per cent children suffer from blindness problem, it added.

A total of 40,000 health workers have been attached at 1.12 lakh centres to make the campaign a success.

Vitamin A deficiency is a serious threat to both mother and child health,they said, adding that the impact of vitamin A deficiency is not only limited to blindness but also increases death risk by causing various diseases.