In response to a severe measles outbreak across the country, Health Minister Sardar Sakhawat Hossain announced an emergency vaccination drive targeting 1.2 million children. The announcement was made during a Parliament session while responding to an urgent public notice brought forward by NCP MP Akhtar Hossain.
The minister stated that under special directives from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the vaccination campaign began on April 5 in 30 high-risk upazilas across 18 districts. In the first phase, children aged 6 months to under 5 years are being vaccinated. On the first day, 73,000 children received the vaccine, achieving nearly 96% of the day’s target of 76,000.
Health Minister’s Criticism of Previous Governments:
The Minister criticized previous administrations, stating that no major vaccination programs were conducted in the country for over five and a half years since December 2020. He attributed the current outbreak and rising risk of measles-related deaths to the failures of past governments, including the interim administration.
Future Vaccination Plans:
- April 12: Vaccinations to begin in Dhaka, Mymensingh, and Barishal City Corporations.
- May 3: Vaccinations to expand nationwide for the remaining areas.
- Vitamin A supplementation has been ongoing nationwide since last Sunday.
Healthcare Preparedness:
- Government hospitals now have isolation wards, and 250 additional isolation beds are being set up in the Rajshahi region.
- ICU and ventilator facilities are being prepared, and a cost-effective oxygen flow system developed by ICDDR,B is being used to provide oxygen to patients’ lungs.
- Unspent COVID-era funds of BDT 604 crore have been allocated for the emergency procurement of vaccines from UNICEF.
- World Bank support through loans and grants has also been assured to combat the crisis.
Concerns Raised by MP Akhtar Hossain:
- Over the past three weeks, more than 115 children reportedly died from suspected measles, with 20 confirmed deaths.
- He highlighted field-level mismanagement, stating that although allocations exist on paper, isolation and ICU facilities are not reaching the public, and a large portion of the health budget remains unutilized.
Government Response:
Health Minister Hossain assured that all healthcare workers’ leave has been canceled to strengthen field-level monitoring. Coordination with development partners has been intensified to ensure there is no shortage of vaccines in the future.
This emergency campaign reflects the government’s urgent efforts to control the measles outbreak and safeguard the health of vulnerable children across Bangladesh.
