17 children die from measles
Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain today said the government’s special measles vaccination campaign has achieved encouraging success in tackling the recent outbreak of the disease.
“More than 20 million children across the country have already been vaccinated, with the campaign achieving a 122 percent success rate so far,” he said while talking to the journalists after visiting Comilla General Hospital on Monday.
Meanwhile, Another 17 children have died from measles and measles-like symptoms across the country in the last 24 hours.
During the same period, 1,224 patients with measles and measles-like symptoms have been admitted to hospitals across the country. This information was disclosed in a press release sent from the control room of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) yesterday.
Heath Minister said infection rates had dropped significantly in the first 18 upazilas where the measles vaccination campaign was launched. The government’s main objective is to ensure 100 percent vaccination coverage for the children within the shortest possible time,” the minister said.
Responding to a question regarding calls for an independent investigation by the World Health Organization into child deaths caused by measles, the minister said punishing those responsible alone would not solve the problem. “Our primary goal is to ensure treatment for infected children and prevent any mother from suffering the pain of losing a child in the future,” he added.
Earlier in the day, the health minister visited Comilla Sadar General Hospital and Comilla Medical College Hospital ahead of Eid-ul-Azha to review the emergency healthcare services, patient management and medicine supply conditions. During the visit, he toured several hospital wards, spoke with patients and inspected the quality of food served to them.
Among others, Deputy Commissioner of Comilla Md. Reza Hasan, Acting Director of Comilla Medical College Hospital Dr. Shah Jahan, Assistant Director Dr. Nishat Sultana, Head of the Pediatrics Department Moyna Monjur Ahmed and Additional Superintendent of Police Saiful Malik, were present at that time.
