Rumour creates panic

Parents gather at Chittagong Medical College Hospital yesterday after a rumour spreads that babies become sick, even die, after taking Vitamin A capsules distributed by the government. Photo: Star

A vested quarter yesterday triggered panic across the country with a rumour that babies were falling sick, one had even died, taking vitamin A capsules distributed by the government under a campaign.
Due to this, many parents kept from taking their children to vaccine centres, while many others rushed their babies, who took the capsules, to nearby health centres and hospitals.
Government officials concerned, however, said the capsules were completely safe, and urged people to have their children administered with vitamin A capsules to reduce the child mortality rate.
Meanwhile, Jamaat-Shibir has been spreading propaganda against the vitamin A campaign on social network and through other means for the last couple of days.
Yesterday in a facebook page called Basherkella Dubai, its admin had shared a post and an image saying, "Two nephews of my friend became sick taking vitamin A capsules imported from India. So far 50 children have fallen sick in Noakhali while many others in different places of the country."
The admin attributed "Bangladesh Nationalist Party_Habiganj" as the source of the news.
On Monday night, the admin of the facebook page urged people saying, "Let's create awareness against the government's self-destructive activities".
However, Director of Institute of Public Health Nutrition (IPHN) Md Ekhlasur Rahman told The Daily Star, "We do not have any information of any child becoming sick taking the capsule. This rumour has been spread to jeopardise the campaign that has achieved outstanding success over the last few years."
A press release of IPHN said the Vitamin A plus campaign was being conducted across the country using quality, germ-free and totally safe capsules tested in WHO-recognised international laboratory, reports news agency UNB.
As prescribed by the WHO, children aged between six and 12 months should be administered 1 lakh units while those aged between one and five years 2 lakh units of vitamin A capsules.
Excessive consumption of vitamin A, however, may cause vomiting or bulging fontanelle, but it would not cause severe harm to children, said Md Ekhlasur Rahman, adding that the effects would automatically ease down within a day or two.
As for yesterday's panic strike, he said, "Children may have caught seasonal diseases like cold or fever. We are sure that there is no possibility of becoming sick taking the capsules."
Meanwhile, at least 125 children, aged between six months and five years, were rushed for check ups to Adhunik Sadar Hospital in Khagrachhari yesterday afternoon due to the rumour about vitamin A capsules.
Most of the parents complained that their children were feeling feverish and weak, and vomiting. After check-ups, doctors prescribed bed rest for the children.
In Chittagong, several hundred panic-stricken parents took their children to health centres and hospitals, as rumour of a child's death from vitamin A intake spread, reports our correspondent.
Following a rumour of death of five children, around 60 people equipped with sticks rushed to Katgar health complex yesterday around 2:00pm. On information police rushed to the spot and dispersed them, said Alamgir Hossain, officer-in-charge of Patenga Police Station.
Around 2.5 crore children were supposed to be administered vitamin A capsules under this round of the campaign, said news reports.