United News of Bangladesh

Deputy WHO Representative to Bangladesh Dr Rajesh Narwal on Saturday called for urgent efforts to reach 34 lakh children who remain vulnerable to measles after missing earlier vaccination campaigns, as measles transmission continues in Bangladesh. “Bangladesh has shown remarkable leadership by promptly launching the nationwide campaign in April, when we started to see the surge in measles cases," he said while delivering his speech at the launch of Intensified Measles-Rubella Catch-up Vaccination Campaign in Dhaka. He said they know from the epidemiological and hospital data; and from the communities around them, that measles transmission continues while children are still suffering from measles. The WHO official said approximately 20 million children have been reached with the measles-rubella vaccine. "However, the work is not yet complete.” On the scale and urgency of the campaign, Dr Rajesh said 34 lakh children - 36 days - it is a huge task. "It’s more than one lakh children every day. But we should not wait for the last day. We have to start our work now. We have to start looking for children and reaching all the missed children who remain vulnerable.” He said WHO remains fully committed to supporting the Government of Bangladesh, not just with the catch-up campaign, but in strengthening routine immunization, enhancing disease surveillance, improving outbreak response and ensuring that no child is left behind. To parents and caregivers, Dr Rajesh said, “If your child missed vaccination by any chance in the earlier campaign, please, please get them vaccinated now." He said the vaccine is highly effective, and it is safe for the child to 8. "This is the best investment you can make in your child’s future and health.” To community and religious leaders, Dr Rajesh said, “Please mobilize the eligible children." "Look around your communities and see who was missed, and encourage them to go to the nearest vaccination site. Also, help facilitate the work of our vaccination teams.” Dr Rajesh urged the health workers to continue to maintain the highest standards of vaccination practice. "Maintain the cold chain. Reach every last child and ensure that parents and caregivers receive appropriate information about what to expect after vaccination.” “Most importantly, look in the communities to reach the last child who is left behind.” To the media, Dr Rajesh said, “You play an important role in fighting misinformation and disinformation about vaccination. Please do that role diligently.” “By working together, and ensuring that every eligible child is reached, he said he is confident that Bangladesh will be able to interrupt transmission very soon. Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain spoke as the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of the nationwide special measles-rubella (MR) vaccination campaign-2026 at the T&T playground at Korail in the city’s Banani area. Health Services Division Secretary Dr ANM Bazlur Rashid, Additional Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Professor Dr Md Zahid Raihan, Representative of UNICEF in Bangladesh Gillian Mellsop attended the programme as the guests of honour.

Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain on Monday said the measles situation is expected to come under control within four weeks as vaccinated people will develop immunity during this period. The number of patients has already started declining, he said while talking to reporters after visiting Barishal Sadar Hospital in the morning. Measles vaccination was supposed to be administered every four years but the continuity was disrupted after 2020, leading to the current outbreak, he said The present government initially had no stock of measles vaccines but managed to procure them within a short time, he added. During his visit to Barishal Sadar Hospital, the minister first inspected the ticket counter and suspended an employee after finding him absent from duty. Later, he checked the attendance registers of doctors and spoke to patients receiving treatment. According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) report, eleven more children died from measles and with measles-like symptoms across the country in 24 hours until 8:00 am Sunday, bringing the total number to 409 since March 15.  

The government will launch an emergency measles vaccination campaign for children aged between six months and 10 years from Sunday, Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain said on Wednesday. The minister shared the information with reporters after a meeting at the Secretariat on Wednesday. He said as an emergency measure, around 21.9 million doses of measles vaccines will be procured from Gavi, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation. Besides, the government has cancelled all leave for field-level health workers from Thursday to ensure smooth implementation of the emergency measles vaccination campaign, said the minister. All vaccinators will work under the supervision of local health officials and remain actively engaged in field operations, he added. The minister said vaccines and syringes will be distributed to all upazilas, with priority given to the most affected areas, by Wednesday and Thursday. “Within the next two days, we will send vaccines and syringes to rural areas, he added. Highlighting government efforts to deal the measles outbreak, the minister said the authorities have responded swiftly to the situation despite its severity. “Although there have been some casualties, we have managed the situation effectively by quickly arranging facilities,” he said. Meanwhile, adequate ward management has been ensured in different hospitals, while ventilators have been rapidly collected from the private sector to support critical patients so that children do not die due to lack of oxygen. The minister warned that measles-related pneumonia significantly increases the risk of death, as it leads to mucus buildup in the lungs, reducing oxygen supply and pushing patients toward critical conditions. He also said the Health Ministry and icddr,b have jointly started working to prevent child deaths caused by measles and associated pneumonia. icddr,b proposed the use of an innovative and cost-effective ‘bubble CPAP’ technology to help reduce respiratory complications among children, he said. Measles cases are rising in the country with hospitals reporting increased admissions and child deaths. A number of children died from measles in different parts of the country including Dhaka and Rajshahi districts.