Campaign on vitamin A more likely in late January

The Vitamin A plus campaign, which has been postponed after reports of suspicion of capsule malformations, may take place during the last week of January.

"We initially decided to hold the campaign on January 26th. But we will finalize it on Sunday, "said Professor Abul Kalam Azad, Director General of the General Directorate of Health Services (DGHS), at the Daily Star.

He added that the government had a sufficient stock of vitamin A capsules for the campaign planned for June. "The capsules of this stock will be used now."

Children aged six to 11 months receive a dose of blue capsule and those aged 12 to 59 months a dose of red vitamin A.

In some areas, only the red-colored capsules were found stuck together, officials said.

The capsules, imported from India two months ago, have been tested and found satisfactory by the national drug control laboratory.

"We believe that the fact that some capsules are attached to each other in packaging is a matter of moisture, not defects," said Professor Abul Kalam Azad. "Nevertheless, the decision will only be made after the investigation of the case," he added.

A seven-member committee, led by Prof. Enayet Hussain, Director General, Health Services Branch, was appointed to investigate the matter. Another committee of the Ministry of Health has also been formed in this regard.

Professor Abul Kalam said that the import of vitamin A capsules, intended for Saturday's campaign, had been carried out via an international bidding process, in accordance with World Bank conditions. , who financed his purchase.

A local company received the work order for the supply of the capsules, but a foreign company seized the High Court against it. Finally, the court ordered in favor of the Indian company that cited the lowest price of capsules, said officials of the DGHS.

The Minister of State for Health and Family, Dr. Murad Hasan, went to the Kishoreganj District Hospital and collected packets of red vitamin A capsules. Professor Azad also visited two community clinics in Gazipur Sadar to see for himself the state of the capsules.