DNCC to feed vitamin 'A' capsules to over 5.79 lakh children

Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has set a target of feeding vitamin 'A' capsules to more than 5.79 lakh children.

DNCC Chief Health Officer Brigadier General Imrul Kayes Chowdhury disclosed this while speaking at a press conference at Nagar Bhaban in capital's Gulshan-2 on Thursday, a press release said today.

As part of the programme, Vitamin A-plus campaign will be held in 1904 centers of 54 wards of DNCC tomorrow, he said.

Vitamin 'A' capsules will be given at designated centers from 8.00 am to 4.00 pm, the release added.

The National Vitamin A-plus campaign will be conducted tomorrow with a target to feed vitamin A-plus capsules to over 2.22 crore children, aged between six months and 59 months, to prevent childhood blindness and reduce child mortality in the country.

Under the campaign, 27 lakh children, aged between six months and 11 months, will be given blue-colored vitamin A-plus capsules while 1.95 crore children, aged between 12 and 59 months, will be administered red-colored capsules free of cost on the day.

Vitamin A deficiency is a serious threat to both mother and child’s health, health experts said, adding that the impact of vitamin A deficiency is not only causes blindness, but also increases death risk by causing various diseases.