National

Vitamin A plus campaign today

Around 22.5 million children aged between six months and five years will be fed Vitamin A plus capsule under a national campaign on Saturday to prevent childhood blindness and reduce child mortality, reports BSS.

Health Minister Mohammad Nasim would inaugurate the campaign feeding Vitamin A capsule and deworming tablet to some kids at Shishu Hospital in city's Agargaon area, said a press release.

Children aged between six and 11 months will be given the blue-coloured high-powered Vitamin A capsule while children aged between 12 and 59 months will receive the red-coloured one.

Children, according to the release, will be fed Vitamin A capsule at some 120,000 permanent health centres and 20,000 mobile centres across the country.

Vitamin A supplementation contributes to build the immune system, helping children to better cope with common infections. The supplementation also helps children to grow faster, to be less anaemic and reduces the mortality rate, said Unicef.