Children living in areas affected by Cyclone Lemal will be given the capsules once vaccination centres are restored.
The nationwide Vitamin A Plus campaign, which begins on June 1, aims to administer Vitamin A Plus capsules to more than 22.2 million children aged 6-59 months to prevent childhood blindness and reduce child mortality in the country.
Officials of the Directorate General of Health Services said at a press conference held at the directorate’s office today (May 30) that children living in areas affected by Cyclone Lemal will be given the capsules once vaccination centres are restored.
According to the statement, there are currently around 2.7 million children aged between six and 11 months and 195 million children aged between 12 and 59 months in Bangladesh.
Vaccinations will be carried out at a total of 120,000 vaccination centres across the country.
A total of 40,000 medical workers and around 240,000 volunteers are expected to participate.
Speaking on the occasion, DGHS Director General Prof ABM Khurshid Alam said 1,224 vaccination centres in coastal areas were affected by Cyclone Remal. Vaccination at these centres will be carried out after restoration work is completed.
He also said that taking vitamin A capsules could prevent blindness and ensure normal body growth. It also significantly reduced deaths due to measles, diarrhea and pneumonia by reducing the overall mortality rate by 24 percent.
Children should be brought to the center on a full stomach. The capsule administrator should cut the top of the vitamin A capsule with scissors and have the child drink all of the liquid medicine inside. Do not force the child to take the capsule if they are crying.
