Staff Correspondent :
A day-long consultative workshop with journalists was held in
Narayanganj to raise awareness about typhoid vaccination among
children, adolescents, and students. The event took place on Wednesday
(24 September) at Narayanganj Press Club, organized by the District
Information Office.
Dr. A.F.M. Moshiur Rahman, Civil Surgeon of Narayanganj, attended
the workshop as the chief guest. The session was presided over by
District Information Officer Mohammad Kamruzzaman and moderated
by Narayanganj Press Club Vice-President Billal Hossain Robin.
Special guests included Fahima Zaman, Deputy Director of the
Department of Mass Communication and Information; Ujjal Hossain,
Assistant Director; Shahidul Islam, Deputy Director of the District
Family Planning Department; Abu Saud Masud, President of
Narayanganj Press Club; and Afzal Hossain Ponti, General Secretary of
the club.
During the workshop, it was highlighted that according to a 2019 health
survey, around 478,000 people in Bangladesh are affected by typhoid
every year, with nearly 8,000 deaths. Alarmingly, 68% of the victims are
children. A nationwide target has been set to vaccinate around 50
million children aged between 9 months and 15 years. The typhoid
vaccination campaign will begin across the country on 12 October, and
the vaccine is reported to have no side effects.
Every year, more than 8,000 children die from typhoid. However,
pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers will not be eligible for this
vaccine.
In Narayanganj alone, the vaccination target has been set at
approximately 810,000 children. Speakers at the workshop urged media
professionals to play an active role in raising public awareness to ensure
the success of the campaign.
