Special measles vaccination campaign to start Sept 25: health minister

Bangladesh will launch a special vaccination campaign to combat measles infections on Sept 25, Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain has said. 

Most of the vaccines have already arrived in the country through UNICEF, he said. The rest will reach the country by Sept 17.

The minister made the remarks to the media after a seminar marking “World Suicide Prevention Day” at the University Women's Federation in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi on Thursday. 

The health minister said when infections continue even after a measles vaccination campaign is completed, the government conducts a mop-up programme. 

Under this programme, 1.4 million children have been newly vaccinated against measles.

Sakhawat said the previous government did not leave any vaccines in the country. Under the circumstances, the current government has completed its vaccination programme by obtaining vaccines for 18.5 million children in just 21 days.

Saying that medical services will be strengthened at remote hospitals to reduce the pressure of dengue patients in Dhaka hospitals, the health minister said isolation beds have been prepared in every hospital and mobile hospitals have also been set up. 

In addition to ensuring the necessary treatment of patients at the Upazila level, coordination and necessary guidelines have also been given to Upazila-level doctors through the Society of Medicine to reduce the pressure on tertiary hospitals.

Sakhawat said, "We were elected by the people. We have a responsibility to the people. Therefore, we are trying our best to protect the health of the people.”