‘Enough vaccines in stock to tackle pneumonia’
Health Minister Sardar Sakhawat Hossain said Bangladesh has sufficient vaccine stocks to tackle pneumonia and the government is prepared to import more if necessary.
He made the remarks at a roundtable marking World Pneumonia Day at Bangladesh Medical University (BMU) on Thursday.
The event, themed “A New Era of Pneumonia Control”, was held at Milton Hall of BMU (PG) Hospital, with BMU Vice-Chancellor Professor FM Siddiqui attending as a special guest.
Addressing the programme as chief guest, the minister assured that the government would provide the necessary equipment and support to prevent child deaths from pneumonia.
“Just tell me what needs to be done to save children from pneumonia. I will do everything. If necessary, I will seek the Prime Minister’s help,” he said.
Expressing confidence in the country’s healthcare professionals, Sakhawat said he did not seek treatment abroad because he trusted the expertise of Bangladeshi doctors.
However, expressing regret over the spread of measles and dengue, he acknowledged the government’s failure to protect children from the diseases.
“We are not able to save children from measles and dengue, and I cannot absolve myself of responsibility for this failure. You tell me how to fix it,” he said.
The minister also pledged to ensure the procurement of modern medical equipment and warned against corruption in the process, saying he was ready to resign if any wrongdoing or failure was found on his part.
He directed BMU to prepare a national guideline on pneumonia prevention and treatment, drawing on protocols followed in developed countries, and submit it to the ministry. He assured the university of government support in implementing the recommendations.
At the roundtable, Professor Dr Md Atiar Rahman, dean of the BMU Faculty of Paediatrics, presented a scientific paper on modern pneumonia treatment, lung-protective ventilation for children and Bubble CPAP facilities.
He said pneumonia remained one of the leading causes of death among children under five worldwide, although timely diagnosis and treatment could prevent many deaths.
Malnutrition, air pollution and inadequate vaccination increase children’s vulnerability to the disease, he said, urging doctors to strengthen early diagnosis, pulse oximetry, appropriate antibiotic treatment and the use of Bubble CPAP.
Rahman also called for exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months, timely vaccination and prompt hospitalisation when children show danger signs such as rapid breathing or chest indrawing.
Speakers at the meeting highlighted government initiatives to strengthen child healthcare through the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), including pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV), Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and measles vaccination.
They also discussed the role of Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) and community-level healthcare in preventing and treating pneumonia.
The programme was moderated by Rahman, with senior faculty members from different medical colleges, the director of the Institute of Child Health and public health experts attending.