Dhaka:Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain has announced that the country possesses sufficient stocks of vaccines to combat pneumonia. He made this statement during a discussion held to mark World Pneumonia Day, organized by the Bangladesh Paediatric Society at Bangladesh Medical University (BMU).
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the minister assured that the government is prepared to import additional vaccines if necessary. He emphasized the need for stakeholders to provide specific recommendations to protect children from pneumonia, affirming that the government is ready to supply the necessary equipment and support. Sakhawat also mentioned that assistance from the Prime Minister would be sought if needed.
The event featured BMU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. FA Siddiqui as a special guest, and the discussion was moderated by Professor Dr. Md Atiar Rahman, Dean of the Faculty of Paediatrics. During the discussion, the minister addressed the major causes of pneumonia, including familial lack of awareness and unhygienic living conditions. He highlighted the issue of multiple children sharing hospital beds and the health risks associated with breastfeeding another woman's child.
To tackle these issues, Dr. Sakhawat announced the engagement of approximately 25,000 Family Welfare Visitors to raise awareness among mothers about breastfeeding, nutrition, and hygiene. These visitors will be equipped with portable screening machines for breast examinations. Additionally, the minister detailed plans to introduce advanced screening systems for the early detection of breast and cervical cancers, learning from the experiences of countries like Sri Lanka and Germany, to improve women's chances of early treatment and recovery.