National Vitamin 'A' plus Campaign today: Media role sought to make the Campaign successful

DINAJPUR: A meeting was held on Wednesday at Health Complex Hall Room in Hakimpur Upazila on National Vitamin A Plus Campaign to be observed today.
DINAJPUR: A meeting was held on Wednesday at Health Complex Hall Room in Hakimpur Upazila on National Vitamin A Plus Campaign to be observed today.
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Bagerhat Correspondent :
Under the joint auspices of Public Health Department, Public Health and Family Planning Ministry and National Nutrition Institute brisk preparations are afoot here to make the National Vitamin ‘A’ plus campaign a success in Bagerhat district today .
In this connection Bagerhat District Public Health Department arranged a workshop on the topic in the auditorium of Bagerhat Press Club with the local journalists of both print and electronic Medias with Dr. Pulak Debnath, Deputy Civil Surgeon and in-chare of Civil Surgeon of Bagerhat in the chair on Wednesday in the morning in order to ventilate the matter widely among the people through the news medias. The key note paper on the topic was presented by Dr. Probir Kumar Bakshi, Medical Officer, Civil Surgeon Office, Bagerhat. He explained, vitamin ‘A’ is not produced automatically in the bodies of the children. So, they should require it from the outside and vitamin A capsule helps them to take it easily. He added, for want of vitamin ‘A’ children may suffer from blindness, night blindness and loss the resistance power to fight against diarrhea and various other infectious and fatal diseases. He added. Vitamin ‘A’ reduces the mortality rate of the children. So, the all concerned should come forward to make the vitamin ‘A’ plus campaign a success. He further disclosed, some 17,365 children of 6 months to 11th months will be given vitamin ‘A’ capsules of blue colour and some 1, 41, 421 children from 11 months to 59 months will be given vitamin ‘A’ plus capsules of red colour from as many as 1,878 inoculation centers in the nine Upazilas and 2 Pourashavas- Bagerhat and Mongla in the whole of Bagerhat district on July 14. And some 3,756 volunteers and field workers are ready to make the campaign a success. It may be mentioned here that on December 23, 2017 some 17, 216 children ranging from 6 months to 11 months and some 1, 40, 917 children ranging from 12 months to 59 months were given vitamin ‘A’ capsule of blue colour and ‘A’ capsules of red colour respectively.
Jashore Correspondent says: A total of 3,18,80 children under five years of age will be given vitamin A capsule across the district today as part of the first round of vitamin A+ campaign.
The information was revealed to journalists at an orientation on vitamin A+ campaign at the conference room of Jashore General Hospital, arranged by civil surgeon office, Jashore .
Chaired by Dr Dilip Kumar Roy, civil surgeon, Jashore the programme was attended among others by Dr Abul Kalam Azad, superintendent, Jashore General Hospital, Dr Harunar Rashid, Dr Selim Reza and Dr Mir Abu Mamun. in the orientation, the journalists were informed that the children will be given vitamin A capsule at a total of 2,404 centres across the district.
BSS from Rajshahi reports: Around 3.51 lakh children under five years will be administered vitamin ‘A’ Plus capsules on National Vitamin ‘A’ Plus Campaign-2018, on July 14 (first round) in the city and nine upazilas of the district.
The campaign will begin at 8 am at 2,138 centres and continue till 4pm. A total of 1,744 outreach vaccination centres will be set up by Rajshahi Civil Surgeon office.
Over 4,480 volunteers, 376 family welfare assistants and 241 health assistants would be engaged for giving vitamin ‘A’ Plus capsules to the children aged from zero to 5 years in the district.
These were revealed by officials concerned of Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) and Civil Surgeon Office while talking to BSS separately on Thursday.
Disseminating her expertise RCC Chief Health Officer Dr AFM Anzuman Ara Begum mentioned that vitamin ‘A’ supplement is essential for the normal functioning of the visual system, maintenance of cell function for growth, red blood cell production, immunity and reproduction.
It’s also very important for reduction of the diarhoeal attack and prevention of post-measles blindness. She said media support is very important to make the forthcoming National vitamin ‘A’ plus campaign successful so that all the vitamin deficiency related disorders among babies are removed completely.
In the city, around 7,435 children aged six months to 11 months will be given blue-coloured capsule of high powered Vitamin A and 54,155 children aged one year to five will be given red-coloured capsule of high-powered Vitamin A.
The programme will be conducted in 384 centres including 343 permanent ones, Dr Begum added.
Civil Surgeon Dr Sanjit Kumar Saha said various problems including eyesight and night blindness could be prevented and cured through successful implementation of the campaign.
He said the national Vitamin ‘A’ plus campaign will be observed across the country to prevent childhood blindness, reducing child mortality and strengthening immunity.
BSS from Rangpur adds: Health officials at a press briefing have sought cooperation of the mass media to make the National Vitamin ‘A’ Plus Campaign (First Round), July 14, 2018 successful in the district tomorrow (Saturday).
The district health administration organised the event at conference room of the Civil Surgeon in the city for the journalists from the print, electronic and online media on Thursday afternoon.
The campaign will be conducted under the auspices of the Public Health and Nutrition Institute (PHNI) and National Nutrition Services (NNS) under the Ministry of Health and Family Planning and assistance of the UNICEF.
Civil Surgeon Dr Abu Md Zakirul Islam briefed the journalists on the preparations to make the National Vitamin ‘A’ Plus Campaign (First Round), July 14, 2018 for around 3.54-lakh under five babies (6 to 59 months) successful in the district.
Deputy Civil Surgeon Dr Abdul Mokaddem Hossain, District Coordinator of Nutrition International Langkesh Barman, Medical Officer Dr Mahbub Hossain also addressed.
The Civil Surgeon said one dose of one lakh unit Vitamin A Blue capsule would be administered to the babies aged between 6 and 11 months and one dose two lakh unit Vitamin ‘A’ Red capsule to the babies aged between 12 and 59 months.
“Around 4,000 health and family welfare assistants, supervisors, health workers and volunteers will work at 1,832 centres allover the district and special steps will be taken at the bus stands and other places to make the campaign a success,” he said.
While answering questions, the Civil Surgeon said the campaign would be conducted to reduce death risks of babies, save them from blindness caused by Vitamin ‘A’ shortage and disseminate knowledge among people about nutritional aspects for the children.
“Vitamin ‘A’ effectively prevents mal-nutritional blindness, especially night blindness, bitot’s spots and corneal lesions,” he said narrating the importance for continuation of Vitamin A supplementation for healthier growth of the children.
The Civil Surgeon called upon the journalists for playing their due role in creating public awareness to make the Saturday’s Vitamin ‘A’ Plus Campaign from 8 am to 4 pm successful.

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