[object Object]

Bangladesh is preparing to launch its nationwide Vitamin A Plus Campaign on June 28, aiming to provide capsules to 2.40 crore children aged six months to under five years. This target is notably higher, by 58 lakh, than the one set for the measles-rubella campaign earlier this year, which targeted 1.82 crore children.

“

The rise in the target population within just two months has raised questions among public health experts about the reliability of the government’s child population estimates.

Public health experts have voiced concerns about the substantial increase in the estimated child population within a short period. They argue that such a wide gap between targets for campaigns aimed at the same age group suggests weaknesses in data planning and could potentially undermine the effectiveness of crucial public health interventions. This is particularly worrying as Bangladesh continues to report approximately 1,000 new measles infections daily, despite claims of exceeding the vaccination target during the recent measles-rubella drive.

“

Such a gap between two nationwide campaigns targeting the same age group points to weaknesses in data planning and could undermine the effectiveness of public health interventions.

State Minister for Health MA Muhith announced that Vitamin A capsules would be distributed through about 1,20,000 centers nationwide, including mobile units at transportation hubs. A special four-day drive will also be conducted in hard-to-reach areas to ensure no children are missed. A second round of the campaign is scheduled for December. The campaign, typically held twice a year, had been suspended since March 2025 due to funding and procurement issues, a delay that health experts warn could lead to increased malnutrition and weakened immunity, exacerbating measles severity.

“

Vitamin A capsules will be distributed through around 1,20,000 centres nationwide, including nearly 500 mobile centres at bus terminals, railway stations, and launch ghats, from 8:00am to 4:00pm.

The recent measles-rubella campaign, launched in response to an outbreak, initially targeted 1.82 crore children, with official data indicating 1.83 crore were vaccinated, achieving 102 percent coverage. However, the subsequent Vitamin A campaign's target jumped to 2.40 crore. Mohammed Eunus Ali, director of the Institute of Public Health Nutrition, stated the new target is based on updated data, but could not provide a clear explanation for the discrepancy when questioned.

“

In hard-to-reach areas across 58 upazilas, a four-day child-searching drive will be conducted after the campaign to identify children who were left out and provide them with Vitamin A capsules.