An emergency vaccination campaign has been launched across the country to combat the spread of measles. Under this initiative, the government has targeted to vaccinate about 18 million (1.8 crore) children aged six to 59 months.
On Monday morning, Health and Family Welfare Advisor Sardar Mohammad Sakhawat Hussain inaugurated the campaign at Little Angel Seminary in Zinda Park, Rupganj, Narayanganj.
He said vaccine supplies had stopped due to failures of previous governments, adding, “Previous governments did not leave any vaccines for us. We have quickly procured vaccines through Gavi and UNICEF.”
This emergency measles-rubella vaccination campaign will continue till May 20 in municipal corporation areas and till May 12 in other areas.
Except on weekly holidays, measles-rubella vaccination will be administered from 8 am at all permanent and temporary vaccination centers across the country.
Hasanul Mahmood, assistant director of the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI), said about 18 million (1.8 crore) children will be covered under the program in all areas – including 30 upazilas of 18 districts and four city corporations.
Earlier, on April 5, the measles-rubella vaccination campaign had started in 30 upazilas of 18 districts.
In the second phase, on April 12, the government launched the program simultaneously in four major city corporations, including Dhaka North and South, Barishal and Mymensingh.
Hasanul Mahmood further said that the campaign which started on April 5 will continue till April 25, while the program which started on April 12 will continue till May 12.
The Directorate General of Health Services has advised that children who currently have a fever or are unwell should not receive the vaccine during this period; Instead, they should be vaccinated after recovery.
It also advised not to take measles vaccine if four weeks have not yet been completed after the first dose.
“Field level workers should be alert”
Prime Minister Tariq Rahman described the vaccination program as one of the government’s most successful initiatives in protecting child health.
He said every child should be brought under vaccination coverage and added, “Field level workers should remain vigilant to ensure that no child is left out.”
Yesterday, Monday, at around 1:45 pm, the head of the government made these remarks while inaugurating the measles-rubella vaccination drive at Ziaur Rahman Rural Hospital in Bagbari, Gabtali Upazila, Bogura.
Speaking at the inauguration in Narayanganj, health and family welfare advisor Sardar Sakhawat Hussain said, “The situation has not yet reached the level where there is a need to declare a state of emergency over measles. Immediately after the death of a child, we arranged intensive care unit (ICU) facilities. We have also provided ventilators in different parts of the country.”
Three more children died
Three more children have died from measles and measles-related symptoms in the country, while an additional 846 children have been admitted to hospitals with measles symptoms.
The Directorate General of Health Services gave this information in its measles update on Monday morning.
It said one of the children who died in the recent 24-hour period (8:00 a.m. Sunday to 8:00 a.m. Monday) was confirmed to have measles, while the other two showed symptoms consistent with the disease.
Since March 15, when measles cases were first reported, a total of 37 children have died from confirmed measles, while 183 children have died with measles-related symptoms.
According to data from the Directorate General of Health Services, out of 846 children admitted with measles symptoms to hospitals across the country in the last 24 hours, 174 cases were confirmed as measles.
Of these, the highest number – 148 children – was recorded in Dhaka division.
During the same period, the child who died of confirmed measles was from Dhaka Division, while deaths associated with measles symptoms occurred in Dhaka, Rajshahi and Barishal divisions.
In the last 24 hours, 1,170 children showed symptoms of measles. Of those admitted to hospital, 382 were from Dhaka division.
During the same period, 862 children admitted with measles symptoms were discharged from hospitals.
Data from the Directorate General of Health Services shows that 24,776 children have shown symptoms of measles since March 15.
Of those, 16,172 required hospitalization. Of those hospitalized, 3,617 cases of measles were confirmed, while 13,258 patients were discharged.
[Information for this report was provided by Staff Correspondents in Dhaka and a Correspondent in Narayanganj.]