Probe into dispute over Vitamin+ capsule initiated

The government on Wednesday formed a four-member committee to probe the allegation that many children fell sick after taking Vitamin A Plus capsule and de-worming tablets during the countrywide National Vitamin-A Plus campaign on Tuesday.

Led by Health Ministry additional secretary Shafiqul Islam Laskar, the committee has been asked to submit its report within the next one week. The committee will investigate rumour over children falling sick, quality of the capsules and other matters.

Health Secretary MM Niaz Uddin said this while addressing a press conference at the ministry.

The official move came following allegations that a large number of children fell sick across the country after taking Vitamin-A capsules and the tablets during the campaign.

Niaz Uddin termed the allegation as untrue and mere rumour. “After receiving the allegation, we enquired the matter and found it as just a rumour spread by a vested quarter.”

Speaking on the occasion, Director General of the Health department Prof DG Dr Khandaker Sefayetullah said the rumour first spread in Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar.

The Imam of a mosque in Cox’s Bazar was arrested in this connection, he said.

Addressing the press briefing, State Minister for Health Dr Mujibur Rahman Fakir said the capsules were of international standard and these were tested at a WHO-recognised laboratory in Singapore.

The national Vitamin A plus campaign was observed across the country on Tuesday with a view to preventing childhood blindness, reducing child mortality and strengthening immunity.

About 2.10 crore children of six months to five years were supposed to be fed the high-powered Vitamin A capsule at 120,000 permanent and 20,000 makeshift centres throughout the country.

At the same time, about 10,067,000 children from 2 years to 5 years of age were scheduled to be given de-worming tablets during the nationwide campaign.

But many parents did not take their children to the centres due to the rumour. UNB

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