Govt aims to curb measles outbreak
The BNP-led government determined to prevent the measles outbreak that hit nationwide and without raising awareness it will not possible to root out the problems, Joint Secretary of the Health Services Division of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Muhammad Mustafizur Rahman has said.
He made these remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a virtual exchange meeting with health department officials held in the conference room of the Chattogram Divisional Health Director’s Office in the port city on Wednesday.
The Health Ministry on April 12 launched the the second phase of the measles-rubella vaccination programme began in the Dhaka North and South City Corporations, Barishal, and Mymensingh. This measles vaccination program will begin nationwide on April 20 and continue until May 11.
The Health Ministry has launched the first phase of a special vaccination program on an emergency basis in 30 upazilas and 13 municipalities across 18 districts of the country since April 5 to control the transmission of measles.
Meanwhile, the programme was also launched in Ramu, Maheshkhali, Chandpur Sadar, and Haimchar upazilas of Cox’s Bazar district in the Chattogram division.
A target has been set to vaccinate 4.4 million children aged 6 months to 59 months against measles and rubella in the Chattogram division. The measles-rubella campaign will be completed at any cost.
The meeting focused on the successful implementation of the Measles-Rubella Vaccination Campaign 2026 and strengthening primary healthcare activities.
To further improve the quality of healthcare, medical officers and consultants appointed at the upazila level must report to their workplaces on time.
The exchange meeting was chaired by Chattogram Divisional Director (Health) Dr. Sheikh Fazle Rabbi. It was attended by Superintendent of Chattogram 250-bed General Hospital and Associate Professor (Cardiology) Dr. Md. Ekram Hossain; Chattogram District Civil Surgeon Dr. Jahangir Alam; Deputy Civil Surgeon Dr. Md. Touhidul Anwar; Assistant Registrar of the Child Health Department of Chattogram Medical College (CMC) Hospital Dr. Farhana Jerin; WHO SIMO Dr. F. M. Zahid; and UNICEF Health Affairs Officer Dr. Delwar Hossain.
Civil surgeons from 10 districts of the Chattogram Division and supervisors of various Sadar hospitals joined the virtual discussion and shared their opinions on the implementation of the Measles-Rubella Vaccination Campaign with the chief guest of the event.
The civil surgeons’ views were taken into account regarding what needs to be done to strengthen primary healthcare. The obstacles in this regard were discussed in detail, and necessary guidelines were provided.
