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Vitamin-A Campaign

Girl dies, 400 fall sick

Govt forms probe body

Star Report
A six-year-old girl of Munshiganj died early yesterday of what the parents claimed the after effect of Vitamin A capsule and deworming tablet.
More than 400 children who were reportedly provided with Vitamin A capsules along
with deworming tablets Saturday sought treatment at different hospitals across the country' with diarrhoea, stomach ache and nausea symptoms.
The government has formed a five-member investigation committee to find out whether the children's falling sick was related to the Vitamin
A Plus campaign. The committee headed by Director of Primary’ Health Care Jahangir Alam will place its report in three days.
Priya Akhter Urmee, daughter of Piar Hossain of Bollal Bari area of the district breathed her last breath at 1:30am. One Habib, 11, of Douiatcna area or Kapian aiso died after showing similar symptoms early Sunday.
Tne committee will also examine how the capsules and tablets were maintained and used, how they were given to children, the expiry dates of the drugs and listen to the versions of parents, health workers and hospital chiefs.
It will try to find out the reasons for the symptoms the children have been showing.
Health Minister AI M Ruhul Huq said there are no side affects to the Vitamin A capsules and deworming tablets and the parents need not panic. The rumours are being spread intentionally, he said.
He also said high quality capsules and tablets were given to the children.
Unicef Communication Chief Christine Jaulmes also said yesterday that the quality of the deworming tablets, supplied by the Unicef, is rigorously controlled.
In Munshiganj, some 32 children were admitted to Munshiganj General Hospital and 160 received emergency treatment since Saturday.
Resident Medical Officer of Munshiganj General Hospital Ehsanul Karim said someone on horn speaker late in the night suggested that parents provide turmeric or lemon juice to children. This panicked the parents and they started to do so which led to vomiting by the children. However, the parents concluded that it was the outcome of the Vitamin A Plus campaign.
Panic seized hundreds of parents who rushed to Khansama Upazila Health complex in Dinajpur after an announcement from a mosque that 1,000 children had died after receiving vita-min A capsules and deworming tablets.
In Bandarban Sadar upazila some 20 children with diarrhoea and nausea took treatment since Saturday and of them six were admitted to hospital.
In Nilphamari, four children who received vitamin A capsules and deworming tablets Saturday, fell sick.
Hundreds of parents who gLXP. their children vitwmn A capsules " and 'dewo'rrnirig tablets thronged the Narayanganj General Hospital yesterday.
Three children were admitted to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital yesterday afternoon. They were provided with the same capsules Saturday.
A number of medical professionals apprehended that malnutrition, hot weather and empty stomach may have triggered diarrhoea of some children.
Brushing aside their apprehension, National Professor MR Khan said usually several thousand people, including children, have diarrhoea in summer whereas it is only 200 children who reportedly got diarrhoea.
"The number is very insignificant," he said, adding that vitamin A can never cause diarrhoea. Rather by strengthening the immune system it saves children from such diseases.
There is no bar on taking deworming tablets during summer, said child specialist MR Khan. Having an empty stomach is also not a problem, he noted.
Private TV station Channel i reported that according to the preliminary report of Janaswastha Push Institute the deworming tablets are to blame for the children becoming sick. It said the vitamin A capsules were brought in from Canada a month ago and were stored maintaining normal temperature as required. It said the capsules had their expiry date in 2012 and they were of a fresh batch.
Our correspondents in Dinajpur, Nilphamari, Mymensingh and Narayanganj contributed to this report.