Health Minister
2 liquid oxygen plants to be established: Health Minister
Health Minister Zahid Maleque said two liquid oxygen plants will be established in the country for more development of the health sector.
“One of the plants will be built in Manikganj while another in Northern part of the country,” said the minister.
He said this at a programme at Colonel Malek Medical College and Hospital in Manikganj town on Saturday.
“During the Covid-19 pandemic we had a huge demand of oxygen and had to import it from India due to shortage in local supply. Currently 150 to 200 tonnes of oxygen are being produced in the country, he said.
Read: Bangladesh ready to tackle fresh surge in Covid cases: Health Minister
Maleque said already three crore people in the country have received booster dose of vaccine against Covid-19 and a campaign is ongoing. “Yet we are not receiving much response from people regarding the booster shot,” he said.
“Covid-linked deaths came down to zero due to vaccination but now every day two to five people are dying. We conducted a survey and found that now the unvaccinated ones are dying,” said the minister.
He urged all to get vaccinated to keep themselves, their families and thus the country safe.
Govt to launch special Covid-19 vaccination campaign Tuesday: Minister
Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Monday said the government will launch another ‘Covid-19 vaccination campaign’ aiming to vaccinate 75 lakh people with second dose and booster dose on Tuesday.
The campaign will be launched in all government medical hospitals, specialized hospitals district and Sadar hospitals and upazila health complexes simultaneously, he said at a press briefing held at Mohakhali Directorate General of Health Services DGHS).
The heath authoritieshave prepared 16,181 vaccination centers across the country to launch the campaign successfully, he said.
Also read: Bangladesh gets another 4 mn doses of COVID-19 vaccine from US
Besides, a total of 33,246 health workers and 49,869 volunteers will work during the campaign, he added.
Those who received the second dose four months ago will get the booster dose, said Maleque.
So far, a total of 76.05 per cent people have received the first dose while 70.3 per cent second dose and 17.9 per cent people received the 3rd dose across the country, said the minister.
Currently, 2.78 crore doses of different vaccines against Covid are in stock now, he said.
About bringing 5-11 years old children under vaccination programme, Maleque said the vaccination programme will start soon.
The government has taken all necessary steps in this regard and the children should complete their registration through ‘Surokkha app’, he said.
“The children will be given Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine. For that a digital birth registration certificate will be needed,” he said.
Also read: 2.4 million Dhaka residents to receive oral cholera vaccine in one week
The minister also urged the parents to complete their birth registration online.
Bangladesh ready to tackle fresh surge in Covid cases: Health Minister
Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Wednesday said the country is now seeing an upward trend in Covid infections and the government is ready to tackle the situation.
The Minister made this remark while talking to reporters after attending the Annual Performance Agreement signing ceremony as the chief guest at the secretariat.
Zahid said that they held a meeting last week to contain the spread of the virus and gave some directives including wearing masks in public places.
Read:NTAC recommends avoiding public gatherings to fight Covid surge
“We’re requesting everyone to take vaccines and wear masks everywhere including in offices, educational institutions, buses and trains. We hope that the people will pay heed to our call,” he said.
The minister added that although the Covid-19 infection rate was negligible 15 days ago it has started to increase once again.
“The government alone can’t tackle the situation. Rather, they need people’s cooperation to keep the Covid-19 situation under control,” he said.
Children aged 5-12 to be vaccinated soon: Health Minister
Children aged between five and 12 will be vaccinated against Covid-19 soon, said Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Tuesday.
Birth certificate is required to get registered for Covid vaccine, he said.
He was speaking at the inaugural and certificate distribution ceremony of the "Certificate Course on Neurodevelopment Disorder" organised by the Institute of Paediatric Neurodisorder & Autism (IPNA) at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).
Read:Children aged 5-12 to be vaccinated by June: Health Minister
“Although several countries of the world have started vaccinating their children, we have not yet been able to vaccinate children. Because, we didn’t receive approval from the World Health Organization (WHO),” he said.
“Now we have got the approval, so we will start the programme very soon.”
He said they have also received the suitable vaccine for children.
There are about 1.5 crore children and it will take time to vaccinate them all. “So get your children registered fast to get them vaccinated,” he urged the parents.
The minister said they have a plan to manufacture vaccine in the country and already selected a land in Gopalganj in this regard. “We will manufacture all the vaccines there.”
140 medical teams working in flood-hit areas: Minister
A total of 140 medical teams are providing medical treatment to flood-hit people in Sylhet district, said Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Monday.
The health department, he said, is ready to provide medical assistance to the flood victims as the water has started receding, he told in a meeting with the health officials at the conference room of Sylhet Osmani Medical College and Hospital.
He also claimed that no death has been reported due to lack of medical treatment or for shortage of food in the district. This has been a great achievement, he noted.
Also read: Receding flood waters reveal disastrous damage in Sylhet
The government has taken steps to solve the problems faced by the community clinics, health centres and hospitals in the flood-hit areas, he said.
Flood water entered the ground floor of Osmani Medical College and Hospital on June 18. Medical activity of the hospital has been hampered badly due to the flood, said the minister.
The radiotherapy, CT scan and MRI machines went out of order forcing the authorities concerned to suspend the operation. The power supply also remained suspended for sometimes at the hospital as the flood water also entered into the generator room. But the authorities concerned restored the power supply instantly in an alternative way, said Maleque.
He assured of taking necessary steps to prevent waterlogging.
Also read: Flood situation worsens in parts of Sylhet
The minister also visited the flood-hit areas in Sunamganj by a helicopter.
He distributed relief materials among 7,000 people in Sylhet and Sunamganj districts.
Health Minister concerned over uptick in Covid, urges return to protocols
Pointing to the steep rise in coronavirus cases in the country, Health Minister Zahid Malique on Sunday urged the people to strictly follow COVID-19 protocols such as wearing face masks and social distancing.
The number of covid-19 cases has started increasing again in the country. In these circumstances, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said the health department is a little bit worried about the infection.
“We succeeded in controlling the corona,” he said. But again the infection has started to increase. We are not panicked but worried.”
The minister said these while addressing as the chief guest at the inaugural function of ICDDR, B Cholera Vaccine Program at Mohakhali in the capital on Sunday afternoon.
Read: Bangladesh sees steady rise in Covid cases: 2 more die
The minister said, "We have brought almost all the targeted people of the country under vaccination." The infection dropped below one percent. But now the infection rate has risen to 15 percent. We have taken all necessary measures to control the infection.”
Several officials in the ministry and health department have also been affected by the Covid-19. So, we need to be aware and follow the health guidelines, added the minister.
Regarding the cholera vaccine, Malique said 2.3 million people in five cholera and diarrhea-prone areas in Dhaka would be vaccinated orally to prevent cholera and diarrhea. People of all ages will be given this vaccine.
Once thousands of people died of diarrhea and cholera but now the scenario has changed. The government and icddr, b have played important roles behind this.
The government has provided safe water and sanitation throughout the country and took preventive measures against these diseases as well as adequate treatment. From recent experience, we have been directed to start a cholera-diarrhea unit in every hospital in district and upazila level, he said.
Read: Global Covid cases near 549 million
Director General of the Health Directorate (DGHS) Dr. Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam said they have vaccinated against cholera in areas where infections have been found in the past. As of now, it is found in some areas of the capital. “So we have taken the initiative to vaccinate in these areas.”
ICDDRB executive director Dr Tahamid Ahmed, Dr. Shafiqul Islam, senior scientist and acting director of the Infectious Diseases Division Dr Ferdousi Qadri were also present on the occasion.
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Remain alert as Covid cases rising: Health Minister
Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Monday urged all to maintain health protocols as the number of Covid cases started to rise in Bangladesh.
“Covid has not yet been eradicated yet and the situation may take alarming turn any time although it is normal now,” said the minister at the secretariat after a meeting on automation of admission process in private medical and dental colleges.
He said Covid cases have increased a bit in the country with 109 people infected with the virus on Sunday.
Also read: Bangladesh reports 109 Covid cases, zero death
Many eminent personalities including ministers have already been infected. “Everyone must follow health rules and wear a mask,” he added.
Zahid also urged those who have not been vaccinated yet to get vaccinated immediately.
The proposed budget allotted for the health sector is around Tk 4,000 crore which more than the previous fiscal year, he said.
Also read: Covid-19: Over 1 lakh Rohingya children vaccinated in Bangladesh
Regarding the automation of students admission in private medical and dental colleges, he said the admission process will be transparent now.
Delhi's Health Minister arrested
India's Enforcement Directorate on Monday arrested Delhi's Health Minister Satyendar Jain in an alleged money laundering case.
Sources said that Jain was involved in alleged "hawala transactions" linked to a Kolkata-based company.
Also read: FM Momen rues long delay in Teesta deal with India
"He will be produced in a court and the Directorate will seek his custody for interrogation," sources said.
Jain also holds the additional portfolio of Delhi's home department and is a prominent face of Delhi's ruling Aam Aadmi Party.
Also read: 7 soldiers killed in India road accident
Non-communicable diseases behind 70% of normal deaths: Health Minister
Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque said that one million people die normal deaths in the country every year. Of these, 70 percent die of non-communicable diseases.
He made the remarks while addressing a launching ceremony of the annual research paper organized by the Non-Communicable Diseases Control (NCDC) at a city hotel on Thursday.
The minister said the country's health sector is today more advanced than at any time in the past. But many new problems have also emerged along with the development in the health sector of the country.
“We are committed to tackling infectious diseases through health care development and we have dealt with infectious diseases like TB, cholera and diarrhea very successfully. We have also dealt with Covid-19 pandemic. These are now under control. But many non-communicable diseases have increased during this time”, the minister added.
Environmental pollution is one of the reasons for these deaths related to non-communicable diseases. Our lifestyle and food habits are also responsible for increasing these deaths. Treatment of these diseases is costly. As a result, expenditure is increasing at the individual and state levels.
Giving importance to research, Maleque said the research helps policymakers to take effective decisions. So we will be engaged in more and more research. The results of several studies have been published today. We hope that the results will play a significant role in the development of our overall health system, especially in the fight against the NDC.
"The government is also emphasizing health education. At present, there are 38 government medical colleges and 5 medical universities in the country."
Zahid Maleque highlighted the various initiatives and successes of the government in dealing with Covid-19.
Also read: 'Rich man's disease': Curious case of Covid in Dhaka slums
Children aged 5-12 to be vaccinated by June: Health Minister
The government has taken steps to vaccinate children aged between five and 12 against Covid-19 by June, said Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Friday.
A special kind of (Pfizer) vaccine has been developed for the children. About two crore children will be vaccinated under this drive, said the minister at an Iftar mahfil in Manikganj Sadar Upazila.
Birth certificate is required to register for Covid vaccine for the children, he said.
The minister also urged the parents to register the birth of children from 5 to 12 years, so that there is no problem to get vaccinated.
Read: Govt procured over 29 crore Covid vaccine doses from abroad: PM
“We have already got the approval of the World Health Organization," he said.
The minister also said, “We have ordered for two crore covid vaccines in this regard. We have already received 30 lakh vaccines.”
The health minister further said that Bangladesh is one of the countries in the world where about 75 per cent of the population has been vaccinated, 95 per cent of the targeted population.
For the success in mass vaccination against Covid-19, the prime minister has become a vaccine hero earlier and this time he has been declared as the vaccine champion.
“We have so far administered about 25 crore doses. We are now administering booster doses. Those who have not jabbed with booster doses, get that quickly.”
Read: Vaccine seekers can get 1st dose at permanent centers: DGHS
Regarding the fourth wave of the pandemic, the health minister said, “Most people in our country have been vaccinated, so the fourth wave will not affect our country that way.”
Currently, the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is the only vaccine authorized or approved for children ages 5 through 17 years. Children and teens need two doses of a Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).