National Vitamin ‘A’ Plus campaign was observed across the country by feeding all kids aged between six and 59 months with Vitamin ‘A’ capsules. The Vitamin A Plus campaign, which is conducted twice a year in the country, was scheduled for January 19, but the Institute of Public Health Nutrition halted it citing ‘unavoidable’ reasons. After the initial schedule was deferred, the government conducted the campaign yesterday.

Health and family welfare minister Jahid Malek said the capsules provided to the children were examined at laboratories and were approved by experts.

Guardians of children, however, expressed concern about the quality of the capsules as they had been rejected earlier. Khalilur Jaman, father of Afsana Jaman Chaiti, 4, gave the capsule to her daughter at Urban Heath Center in Mirpur Pallabi area. Expressing fear and doubts about the quality of the capsule, Jaman said: “Chaiti is my only daughter. I heard that the capsule was made by local companies and I am not sure whether children will get the proper vitamins.”

Monowar Begum, mother of Masarrat Jabin, 3, gave her child the vitamin ‘A’ capsule in front of ‘The New School’ at Banani in the capital. He told The Independent: “I wasn’t sure whether I’d give my child the capsule, as I had doubts about its quality.”

Sources have said 25.27 lakh children aged between six and 11 months would be given blue-coloured vitamin ‘A’ capsules, while 1.95 crore children aged between 12 and 59 months will be given red-coloured high-powered capsules.