Dhaka: Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain today announced that the government’s special measles vaccination campaign has achieved encouraging success in addressing 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 stated while speaking to journalists after visiting Cumilla General Hospital.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the minister reported that infection rates have significantly decreased in the first 18 upazilas where the measles vaccination campaign was initiated. The government’s primary aim is to ensure complete vaccination coverage for all children in the shortest possible time. Responding to inquiries about calls for an independent investigation by the World Health Organization into child deaths from measles, the minister emphasized that punishing those responsible alone is not a solution. “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 Cumilla Sadar General Hospital and Cumilla Medical College Hospital ahead of Eid-ul-Azha to assess emergency healthcare services, patient management, and medicine supply conditions. During his visit, he toured several hospital wards, interacted with patients, and inspected the quality of food provided to them. Present at the time were Deputy Commissioner of Cumilla Md. Rezaul Hasan, Acting Director of Cumilla 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.