The Vitamin A-Plus campaign will start on October 4 and continue till October 18. This time 479,353 children will be fed vitamin A capsules in Cox’s Bazar district. Of these, 62,428 are children aged 6-11 months and 4,16,925 are children aged 12-59 months.
This year, the campaign has undergone major changes in this ongoing epidemic corona situation. Earlier, it was held day-long, but this time, the campaign will continue for a fortnight to ensure social distancing.
Cox’s Bazar Civil Surgeon Dr Mohiuddin Mohammad Alamgir informed this at a view-exchange meeting with journalists at EPI Store conference room on Thursday.
At the time, he also informed that Vitamin ‘A’ Plus campaign will be conducted simultaneously in 8 upazilas of Cox’s Bazar (activities will be conducted separately in 1 municipality).
1,951 permanent, temporary, mobile and additional vaccination centres have been set up. 208 health assistants, 173 family welfare assistants and 5,407 volunteers will work to make the vaccination a success. Vaccination activities will be supervised by 216 supervisors.
Civil Surgeon Dr. Mohiuddin Mohammad Alamgir said the Vitamin A Plus campaign has been conducted throughout the day in the past. But this time it has been extended to 15 days to avoid corona infection. So, everyone can take vitamin ‘A’ capsules slowly without going together. Activities will be conducted in each centre maintaining social distance.
He said that if a mother or parent thinks they will feed their child themselves, to avoid corona infection, they can go to the centres and the health workers will cooperate with the mother or guardian.
He further said that, if a child of a certain age is corona positive, that child can also be given vitamin A capsules. Because vitamin A capsules have nothing to do with corona.
Medical Officer of the Civil Surgeon’s office Sounam Borua presented the keynote address at the meeting. Journalists Sarwar Azam Manik and Farhad Iqbal were present as special guests. District Health Superintendent Sirajul Islam Sabuj conducted the meeting.