Dhaka: Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain today informed the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) that necessary isolation and ICU facilities have been kept ready in hospitals across the country to face the ongoing measles situation. The Minister made the statement while responding to a notice under Rule-71 placed by NCP lawmaker Akhtar Hossen (Rangpur-4) in the Jatiya Sangsad today. With Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal in the chair, the minister said nationwide hospitals have prepared isolation wards for measles patients, and necessary steps are being taken promptly wherever required.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the minister addressed concerns about the availability of isolation facilities, asserting that allegations of a lack of such facilities at the field level are incorrect. He emphasized that there is no shortage of isolation wards in any hospital and expressed his willingness to personally visit and demonstrate the situation if needed.
Regarding ICU facilities, the minister explained that while ICUs cannot be established instantly, rapid measures have been implemented considering the situation. He highlighted that an ICU unit at the Infectious Disease Centre was made operational within just 18 hours. Additionally, an ICU unit previously inactive after a project shutdown has been reactivated with the deployment of doctors, nurses, ayahs, and anesthesia staff to ensure full functionality.
Referring to the measles situation in Rajshahi, the minister reported emergency measures were taken immediately after reports of 33 child deaths in 11 days. Ventilators were dispatched the following day, an ICU unit was activated, and round-the-clock monitoring ensured, resulting in the situation now being under control.
Md. Sakhawat mentioned that ventilators and other necessary medical equipment are available with the ministry and are being supplied quickly wherever needed. Addressing the budget, he noted that while the new budget has not yet been placed, the government will ensure transparent and need-based spending in the health sector, emphasizing honest and efficient allocation according to actual requirements.
The health minister highlighted the government’s goal to swiftly control measles and protect children’s lives through prompt action. He attributed the rise in measles cases to vaccination failures and a long gap in immunization during previous governments, noting the absence of a measles-rubella campaign for about five and a half years after 2020, which increased the number of unvaccinated children, putting them at higher risk. Weak vaccine supply management also contributed to shortages.
In response, an emergency vaccination campaign began on April 5, targeting 1.2 million children aged six months to under five years in 18 districts and 30 upazilas, with about 96 percent coverage achieved on the first day. Affected children are being given Vitamin-A, and hospitals have been prepared with isolation, ICU, and ventilator support. The minister also noted that vaccines are being procured and the program strengthened with support from the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and the World Bank (WB).
The government hopes that these coordinated efforts will help bring the measles outbreak under control swiftly.