Bangladesh launches massive drive to fight childhood blindness and malnutrition

Bangladesh will launch a nationwide campaign on 28 June 2023 to prevent childhood blindness and combat malnutrition. The initiative aims to reach over 23 million children with Vitamin A supplementation. Health officials have urged parents and guardians to participate by visiting the nearest centre on the day. The campaign will run from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm across 120,000 centres, including 500 mobile units in public spaces. Children aged 6 to 11 months will receive blue Vitamin A capsules, while those aged 12 to 59 months will get red capsules.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain will inaugurate the event at Abu Sayeed Convention Centre in Shahbagh. State Minister for Health Dr M A Muhit and the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Health Affairs Dr S M Ziauddin Hyder are expected to attend. Local lawmakers will also join administrative authorities for simultaneous launches at district and upazila levels.

This is the first nationwide Vitamin A campaign since March 2022, as shortages of capsules had paused the bi-annual programme. Civil Surgeons and Upazila Health Officers will monitor local activities, while central officials will oversee the entire operation. The Health Minister has called on all stakeholders to ensure the campaign’s success.

Bangladesh first introduced Vitamin A supplementation in 1973 under the National Night Blindness Prevention Programme. It was later integrated with National Immunization Days and renamed the National Vitamin A Plus Campaign in 2003. Vitamin A is vital for child health, preventing nutrition-related blindness and strengthening immunity. It also reduces the risk of prolonged diarrhoea and lowers child mortality. The campaign will provide essential supplementation to millions of children across the country.