The national Vitamin ‘A’ plus campaign was observed across the country on Monday, aiming to feed vitamin A plus capsules to all children aged between six and 59 months.
Health Minister Zahid Maleque inaugurated the campaign with a target to provide Vitamin A plus capsule to 2,20 crore children, at NIPSOM Auditorium, Mohakhali after feeding red and blue capsules to some children.
Under the programme, 25 lakh children aged between 6 to 11 months will be fed blue colour A plus capsule while 1.95 crore children aged between 12 to 59 months will be fed red colour capsule.
“The rate of night blindness disease has been come down to 1 percent and Vitamin A plus capsule not only prevent children from night blindness but also reduces the child mortality rate to 24 percent,” said the minister while speaking at a programme.
He also urged the mothers to take their children to their nearest health centres and feed them Vitamin A plus capsules
A total of 2.40 lakh volunteers were deployed at 1.20 lakh centres with 40,000 health workers participating in the day's campaign.