Health Minister
People now safe from Covid-19: Health Minister
Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque has said that about thirteen crore people have been vaccinated in the country and now people are safe from Covid-19.
The minister made the remarks while addressing an iftar party organized by the district administration at the residence of the Manikganj district commissioner on Saturday evening.
Bangladesh is moving forward economically and socially facing all hurdles of the Covid-19 pandemic, the minister added.
Read: Eid-ul-Fitr: Sale of advance train ticket begins
"Though the number of deaths has come down to zero we should not be careless. We have to follow the health guidelines and should keep an eye as the number of Covid cases increases in neighboring countries,” he said.
Bangladesh logged 26 fresh Covid-19 cases in 24 hours till Saturday morning taking the total caseload to 19,52,532.
As per the latest government data, the country’s total fatalities remained unchanged at 29,127 as no death was reported during the period, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The daily positivity rate rose slightly to 0.55 per cent from Friday's 0.54 per cent after testing 4,708 samples during the period.
Read: Passengers paying extra toll at over 400 BIWTA ghat points
On Friday, the number of infections was lower as 21 new cases were reported with zero death.Besides, the mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.49 per cent.
The recovery rate rose to 96.96 per cent with the recovery of 315 more patients during the 24-hour period.
In March, the country reported 85 Covid-linked deaths and 8,000 new cases while 66,639 patients recovered from the disease, according to DGHS.
2nd round of mega Covid vaccination drive extended until April 3: Health Minister
The second round of mega Covid vaccination drive without any registration has been extended by three more days until April 3, said Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Thursday.
The minister made the announcement while handing Health Minister’s National Award 2020 at the city’s Osmani Memorial Auditorium.
Read: Bangladesh sees 73 new Covid cases, no death
“To tackle the Covid-19 situation, so far 13 crore first doses and 11 crore second doses of vaccines have been administered bringing 96% of the targeted population under the campaign,“ said Minister Maleque.
“We still have five crore vaccine doses in stock and have six crore more in pipeline. We have decided to extend the mass vaccination program to bring the remaining people under the campaign,” he said.
Health Minister vows legal action in Napa deaths of two siblings
Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Sunday said legal actions will be taken if anyone is found guilty in the death of two children reportedly after taking Napa syrup in Ashuganj upazila of Brahmanbaria district.
The minister said this in an international convention and scientific seminar arranged by Bangladesh Society of medicine at the city's Bangbandhu International Convention Center.
“Already we have formed a committee to probe the incident. The Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) and Health Service Department have also taken the necessary steps in this regard,” said Zahid.
Also read: Govt seeks WHO nod for vaccinating children aged 5 and above: Health Minister
On Thursday night, two siblings named Yasin Khan,7, and Morsalin Khan,5, died after taking Napa syrup at their home in Durgapur union in Ashuganj upazila of Brahmanbaria.
The parents of the children gave them the syrup as they were suffering from high fever. It was bought from a local ‘Ma Pharmacy’ owned by Main Uddin and the syrup had an expiry date mentioned till 2023.
The children were discharged after given primary medications at District Sadar Hospital. Yasin died on way home, and Morsalin after reaching home, the family said.
Also read: Govt has set up 16,000 Covid beds since the beginning of pandemic: Zahid Maleque
Govt seeks WHO nod for vaccinating children aged 5 and above: Health Minister
In an effort to contain the spread of Covid-19, vaccination for primary school students aged five and above will start soon after WHO approval, said Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Monday.
“We have asked the Education Ministry to prepare a list of the students. We also have contacted the World Health Organisation for its approval,” he told reporters after an emergency on nationwide vaccination situation at Bangladesh Secretariat.
The start of the drive for vaccinating primary school students depends on WHO approval, he said in reply to a question.
Besides, the mega vaccination drive for administering second dose will begin on March 28 and will continue till March 30.
Also read: Bagerhat's shining success in vaccinating students
Some 2.25 crore people are likely to receive the second dose during the mega drive, he said.
Maleque said 22 crore doses of Covid vaccines so far have been administered in the country covering 75 per cent of the population.
An amount of Tk 40,000 crore has been spent for purchasing and administering covid doses, he added.
Also read: No decision yet on vaccinating the under-18: DGHS
Since the inauguration of the mass inoculation drive in Bangladesh on February 7 last year, some 8,68,44,218 people have been fully vaccinated with two shots and12,54,90,996 people received their first doses till Sunday (March 6).
Besides, 42,53,378 people have received booster doses, the minister said.
Bangladesh ranks first in South Asia in tackling Covid-19 pandemic: Health Minister
Bangladesh is the first among the South Asian countries to have successfully tackled the Covid-19 pandemic, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said on Sunday, a day after more than one crore people got their first shots under a special nationwide drive.
Maleque said this while speaking as special guest at the orientation programme of 42nd BCS Cadre at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.
Read: Covid-19: Bangladesh reports below 1000 cases after 52 days
He said during the special drive on Saturday a total of 1.20 people were administered Covid vaccines, 1.11 crore of them receiving the first dose overshooting the target set by the government.
The target was to inoculate one crore people with the first Covid dose.
10 million vaccine shots to be administered on Feb 26: Health Minister
The government has taken an initiative to administer at least 10 million Covid-19 vaccine doses on February 26 to achieve the target of vaccinating 90 percent of people in the country, said Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Malik on Thursday.
To implement the initiative, the Health and Family Welfare Minister has already sat in several meetings with the officials of his ministry and the Directorate General of Health Services, said a PID handout.
The meetings expressed optimism that if 90 percent of the targeted people could be brought under the vaccination coverage, both the infection and death rates would decline .
In the meetings, a number of plans were taken to implement the fresh inoculation drive.
Read: Covid in Bangladesh: 20 more die as positivity rate stands at 10.24 %
As per the plans, at least 10 million people from the floating communities who have not yet been vaccinated yet, will be selected in upazilas, municipalities and city’s wards, community centres or other places designated by the government, in order to bring them under the vaccination coverage.
Some 6.55 million vaccine shots will be provided in different levels on the day (February 26), including 4.14 million doses in 13,800 wards in the upazilas, 0.324 million doses in 1068 wards in the municipalities, 2.0925 million shots in 465 wards in cities.
Read: Prepare universal pension scheme for all: Hasina
Besides, 3.5 million vaccine doses will be given to special communities including workers in various factories, markets, restaurants, boats, launches and ships, brick kilns and other floating communities.
No vaccine registration or birth registration certificate will be required to get vaccinated against Covid on February 26.
Educational institutions to be reopened after Feb 21: Health Minister
All the educational institutions of the country will be reopened after February 21 as the Covid-19 cases keep falling gradually, Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Saturday said.
"The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has no objection to reopening physical classes, but we would suggest the educational institutions to be reopened in compliance with health-safety rules," he said in a views-exchange meeting with district health officials at Gorpara Shuvro Centre in sadar upazila at noon.
The minister advised all the students of schools and colleges who have not yet been vaccinated to do so as soon as possible.
Also read: Dipu Moni hints at reopening of educational institutions soon
"Eighty-five per cent of our target population has been vaccinated so far. So, the risk of infection and death is much lower now," he said.
75% of target population fully vaccinated : Health Minister
Seventy-five per cent of the target population have been vaccinated against Covid-19 in the country, said Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Thursday.
“Already 10 crore doses of vaccine have been administered and 75% people out of 12 crore people have been brought under vaccination programme,” he said while speaking at a programme on the occasion of Cancer Day at the Cancer Research Institute in the city.
Steps have been taken to vaccinate the floating people and transport workers, he said.
“I have talked to some people who are not willing to take the Covid jabs but I want to say that most of the people in Bangladesh want to get vaccinated unlike people of many other countries,” said Maleque.
Also read: US donates 6mn more Pfizer vaccine doses to Bangladesh
Mentioning that vaccines can reduce the risk of mortality, the Health Minister said the mortality rate is low in the country because a large number of people were brought under vaccination programme. “That’s why the number of patients in the hospitals is less.”
During the second wave of Covid-19, 10,000-12,000 people were hospitalised but some 1000-1500 people were hospitlaised during the third wave of Covid, he said.
“Seventy-five percent of hospital beds are empty now so I would request you to take Covid jabs in your arms,” said the Minister.
The number of cancer patients is increasing due to changes in lifestyle, he said adding currently, there are 20 lakh cancer patients and every year, 1.5 lakh people are diagnosed with cancer while one lakh people die of cancer every year in the country, he said.
If detected at the primary stage, cancer is curable, he added.
Also read: Bank officials, staff must have vaccine certificates :BB
The government has taken a step to build eight cancer hospitals in eight divisions to ensure medical services to cancer patients, said Maleque.
All to be fully vaccinated in Bangladesh by Dec: Health Minister
All the people of the country will get the two doses of vaccines and the booster one against Covid-19 by December as per the target, said Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Monday.
"Bangladesh has been successful in its vaccination campaign. Around 10 crore people in the country have been vaccinated so far," he said while talking to reporters at the Secretariat.
Read:Mohibul says student vaccination makes progress; 64 % done
The minister said the government has so far spent more than Tk 20,000 crore on vaccinating the people of the country.
“About 70 per cent of people have been vaccinated. Among them, around 6.75 crore people have received the second doses and 26 lakh people got the booster shots,” he said.
“The government is not finding people to vaccinate,” he said.
Booster dose eligibility now 50: Health Minister
The government has lowered the age limit for receiving the Covid booster dose up to 50, said Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Monday.
“We’ve enough vaccines in stock compared to our population,” the minister said while talking to reporters at the secretariat.
So far, he said, seven lakh booster doses have been administered in Bangladesh.
“In last 15 days, the positivity rate increased to 18 per cent and it’ll reach 30 per cent by a month and a half. If such a rate continues, there’ll be no seat available in any hospital.”
Read: Omicron cases rise to 55 in Bangladesh
The minister said the government is worried about the current Covid situation. “So, everyone must wear a mask and follow the health protocols.”
He warned that the situation will worsen if people move recklessly without masks.