Desk Report:
The measles vaccination campaign officially started in the presence of the State Minister for Health at Karail Basti in Dhaka-17, the Prime Minister’s constituency. Speaking there, State Minister for Health Dr. MA Muhith said that since taking office, the Tarique Rahman-led government has been working tirelessly day and night to ensure public health, especially the health of children.
State Minister Dr. Muhith said, ‘To make the emergency campaign successful, everyone from all walks of life should make this campaign successful with their organizational strength in their respective areas. This campaign is an opportunity for politicians. You should go door-to-door and provide information about the vaccination program.’
The State Minister for Health said that during his conversation with the Prime Minister the day before yesterday, he had instructed to give utmost importance to the health protection of children. The government is determined to implement this commitment of the Prime Minister. The State Minister said, “We are working for the people. We want to reach the people’s doorsteps with the benefits of our work by repeatedly reaching out to them. This vaccination program is a great opportunity for us to get closer to the people.”
Referring to the high transmission capacity of measles, the State Minister said that the government was able to start this special campaign just five days after receiving the news of the infection. Health workers have reached the places where the outbreak was seen on a priority basis. This program has already been expanded to all city corporations after Dhaka.
In the vaccination campaign, the State Minister further confirmed that a large campaign to prevent measles will be conducted simultaneously across the country from April 20. He mentioned, “Just as measles spreads quickly, it can be eradicated quickly through vaccination. If we can bring most of the children under the ambit of vaccination, this outbreak will be stopped now.”
The State Minister expressed his firm conviction in his speech that the government is working with full preparation to face any health challenge with the aim of building a healthy and strong generation of Bangladesh.
He further said, ‘Measles cannot be prevented just by whether your child has been vaccinated or not. It can be prevented only if the entire group is immune to the disease.’
‘At least 95 children out of 100 should be vaccinated. So that even if two or four are left out, there is no risk of infection,’ added Dr. MA Muhith.
Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Administrator Shafiqul Islam Khan, BNP National Executive Committee member Abdus Sattar Patwari, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Chief Executive Officer Muhammad Asaduzzaman and others spoke at the event.
