
29 May 2011: A child is administered a dosage of vitamin A from a red capsule at the Kalapotti Satellite, Kalapotti Slum, during the UNICEF supported National Vitamin A Plus Campaign, NVAC in Barisal.
The National Vitamin A Plus Campaign (NVAC) has been running for almost a decade and is one of the biggest in Bangladesh. In 2010, more than 95 per cent of children aged 12 to 59 months received Vitamin A supplementation and more than 93 per cent infants aged 9 to 11 months received Vitamin A supplementation. In 2011, as part of a new trial, infants aged six to eight months are eligible to receive the vaccination in seven districts. 900,000 infants between six and eight months were targeted during the one-day campaign. In the years prior, infants aged nine to 11 months received the vaccine as part of a wider immunization campaign against measles but following recommendations by the World Health Organisation, it was decided those aged between six and 59 months were to receive the vaccination as part of the specific Vitamin A campaign. Bangladesh has a poor dietary intake of Vitamin A and less than 40 per cent of pregnant and lactating women receive enough Vitamin A as part of their diets. The supplement protects against night blindness, helps cells function, aids the production of protective red blood cells and boosts the bodys immune system. Because the campaign also aims to increase awareness around Vitamin A, more than 400,000 volunteers and 60,000 health service providers across Bangladesh assisted in getting people to distribution points, administering the droplets and disseminating information about the importance of Vitamin A and healthy living. Messages had been broadcast on television and radio as well as through megaphones attached to the back of moving vehicles. Posters were hung around villages and mosques delivered information to worshippers. Since 1997, the prevalence of night blindness in children has been maintained below the 1% threshold tha
The government is launching the second phase of national vitamin A program across the country from today.
According to the Family Welfare Division under the Ministry of Health and Population, there is a national vitamin A and anti-worm drug feeding program in 753 municipalities today and tomorrow .
The ministry plans to provide vitamin A to 2.7 million children across the country and anti-worm drugs to 2.393 million more children.
Children from 6 months to 59 months will be given Vitamin A and children from 1 to 5 years will be given worm medicine. The local level will administer the medicine from the school or the nearest health center.
52,000 women health volunteers have been mobilized to provide Vitamin A. Vitamin A deficiency affects the growth and development of children, leading to problems such as malnutrition, chronic diseases, and reduced ability to fight disease.
Government has been administering Vitamin A since 2053 BS to reduce the risk of health complications and malnutrition in children from 6 months to 59 months. The worm medicine has been given to children twice a year since 2058 BS.