Muyabia Labony – Following a 14-month hiatus caused by supply shortages, the nationwide Vitamin ‘A’ capsule campaign is set to return across Bangladesh.
Aimed at preventing childhood blindness and combating malnutrition, the single-day drive will take place on Sunday, June 28, from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
The initiative aims to vaccinate more than 23.5 million children aged between 6 and 59 months.
To ensure no child is left behind, a specialized four-day “child-to-child searching” follow-up program will be conducted immediately afterward in 714 remote wards across 58 upazilas in 12 districts.
Targets and Demographics
According to officials from the Institute of Public Health Nutrition (IPHN), the campaign has set a precise target to reach 23,514,972 children. The distribution is categorized by age groups requiring specific dosages:
-
Infants (6–11 months): 2,838,794 children will receive the blue-colored Vitamin ‘A’ capsule.
-
Toddlers and Young Children (12–59 months): 20,576,178 children will receive the high-dose red-colored capsule.
Massive Logistics and Infrastructure Deployment
The government has mobilized extensive resources to ensure maximum coverage. A total of 120,000 regular Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) centers have been prepared.
Additionally, 500 mobile centers will operate at major transit hubs, including launch terminals, ferry ghats, railway stations, and bus terminals, to cater to traveling families.
“The Vitamin ‘A’ capsules have already reached our hands, and we are taking maximum preparations to execute the campaign,” said Dr. Mohammad Yunus Ali, Director of the IPHN. “We hope parents of children aged 6 to 59 months will visit their nearest centers to ensure their children receive the capsule.”
Health and Family Welfare Minister Sarder Md. Sakhawat Hossain will officially inaugurate the campaign at the Abu Sayeed Convention Center in Shahbagh, Dhaka.
High-profile officials, including State Minister for Health Dr. M A Muhit and the Prime Minister’s Health Advisor Dr. S M Ziauddin Haidar, are scheduled to attend.
Locally, Members of Parliament, civil surgeons, and upazilas health officers will oversee operations alongside thousands of field workers and volunteers.
Overcoming the Supply Shortage
The campaign’s return marks a critical public health milestone. While guidelines mandate a bi-annual distribution of Vitamin ‘A’ supplements, supply chain disruptions forced a total halt after March of last year.
“We have revived the Vitamin ‘A’ capsule campaign which remained suspended for a long time,” noted Health Minister Sarder Md. Sakhawat Hossain. “I urge everyone to work sincerely to make this campaign a success.” He further called upon parents to ensure their eligible children visit the nearest center within the stipulated hours.
A Historic Shield Against Blindness
Vitamin ‘A’ deficiency remains a major threat to developing immune systems. Beyond preventing nutritional blindness (night blindness), the supplement strengthens a child’s immune system, reduces the severity of prolonged diarrhea, and significantly lowers child mortality rates.
Bangladesh’s battle against Vitamin ‘A’ deficiency dates back to 1973, when it was launched as the ‘National Night Blindness Prevention Program’.
The initiative was integrated into National Immunization Days in 1995 and rebranded as the ‘National Vitamin A Plus Campaign’ in 2003. Since 2011, it has operated under the National Nutrition Services (NNS) of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).