Dhaka: Health Adviser Nur Jahan Begum today instructed the authorities concerned to take all-out steps to achieve 100 percent coverage of typhoid vaccination that will begin from October 12 across the country. “The death rate of children from typhoid fever in the country is not acceptable,” she said while addressing as the chief guest the National Advocacy Meeting on ‘Typhoid Vaccination Campaign-2025’, held at Shaheed Abu Sayeed Convention Hall in city’s Shahbagh area.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for Health Prof. Dr. Sayedur Rahman was present at the meeting as a special guest while Health Secretary Md Saidur Rahman presided over it. Director General of the Health Services Prof Dr Md Abu Zafar, Additional Secretary of the Public Health wing of the health ministry ATM Saiful Islam, DG of the NGO Affairs Bureau Daud Miah, UNICEF representative Dipika Sharma, and Deputy Representative of the World Health Organization Dr Rajesh Narwal, among others, spoke at the meeting.
Nur Jahan Begum announced that the vaccination programme for protecting children from typhoid fever would commence nationwide from October 12, with a target to vaccinate five crore children. Children aged from nine months to 15 years are eligible for the vaccine, she added. Emphasizing the importance of the vaccination campaign, the adviser stated that all children would be given the vaccine regardless of whether they have birth certificates. She noted the past success of the EPI programme due to vaccination and stressed that the typhoid vaccination should also be successful.
Special Assistant Dr Sayedur Rahman highlighted that vaccination is the most successful programme in the health sector and that the typhoid vaccination would be integrated into this programme. “We want to increase additional manpower by incorporating the medical colleges, nursing colleges, and intern doctors to ensure the success of the vaccination drive,” he added.
The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations and UNICEF have been assisting the typhoid vaccination programme jointly.