Vitamin A Plus Campaign today

The National Vitamin A Plus Campaign-2010 will be held across the country today with a view to preventing childhood blindness, reducing child mortality rate and strengthening immunity.
Health Minister AFM Ruhal Haque formally inaugurated the campaign at Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons (BCPS) at Mahakhali in the city yesterday morning by feeding vitamin A capsules and deworming tablets to some children.
Over two crore children under 5 years will be fed Vitamin A capsules and deworming tablets during today's campaign.
The slogan of this year's national campaign is 'Feed vitamin A capsule to your babies to reduce the risk of death'.
Addressing the inaugural function, the health minister urged the countrymen to bring their children to the nearest health centres to feed vitamin A capsule and deworming tablet to them in order to protect them from malnutrition.
He also suggested that children should take some food in the morning before taking the capsule and deworming tablet to avoid vomiting.
Children aged between one and five years will be fed high powered vitamin A capsule, while children aged between two and five years will be given a deworming tablet along with the vitamin A capsule during the campaign.
Over 450,000 health workers and volunteers will work at some 1.4 lakh centres across the country to make the campaign a success. Three volunteers will work at each centre.
All permanent health centres and the mobile centres at bus stands, railway stations, launch terminals and airports will also remain open from 9:00am to 5:00pm to ensure all children receive the doses.
State Minister for Health Mojibur Rahman Fakir, Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services Prof Shah Monir Hossain, Director General of Family Planning Dr M Abdul Quiyum and Director of Institute of Public Health Nutrition Prof Dr Fatima Parveen Chowdhury were present at the inaugural session.