United News of Bangladesh

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain on Monday said more than 2 crore children across the country have already been vaccinated against measles, surpassing the government’s initial target. “The measles vaccination campaign is still continuing despite exceeding the target,” he said while speaking to reporters at Cumilla Medical College Hospital in the morning. The minister visited the medical as well as Cumilla General Hospital. He stated that children are being vaccinated under both routine Expanded Programme on Immunzsation (EPI) and special outreach programme. Sakhawat Husain said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is working sincerely to prevent measles and assured that various problems in the country’s health sector will be resolved gradually. Sixteen children died from measles-like symptoms in Bangladesh in the 24 hours till 8:00am on Sunday, the 2nd-highest death toll in a single day since the outbreak in March last. With the latest fatalities, the death toll has reached 528 this year.

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.  

More than 81% of children in Bangladesh have received measles vaccine and the government is working to achieve 100 percent coverage soon, Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain said on Sunday. “We have achieved 81% coverage in measles vaccination. The remaining children will brought under vaccination very soon,” the minister said at a press briefing at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka after the second session of the Deputy Commissioners’ Conference. Measles is currently under control in the country and the death rate has declined significantly, he said. There is an adequate supply of vaccines and distribution across the country is running smoothly, he said. A nationwide emergency measles-rubella vaccination campaign was launched on April 20 to vaccinate around 1.8 crore children aged 6 months to under 5 years across the country. Besides, on April 5, the government, with support from UNICEF, WHO and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, launched an emergency measles-rubella vaccination campaign to protect more than 1.2 million children aged 6 months to 5 years in 30 upazilas in 18 high-risk districts. Meanwhile, 10 children died from measles and symptoms consistent with the highly contagious but preventable disease in the country in 24 hours till 8:00am on Sunday, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Of the new deaths, one was confirmed as measles-related, while the remaining nine were classified as suspected. Of the suspected deaths, highest four were recorded in Dhaka. With this, the total number of confirmed deaths from measles has risen to 50 and suspected deaths to 244 since March 15.

The government has reallocated Tk 604 crore from unused pandemic funds and secured around 2.19 crore vaccine doses with international support as part of urgent measures to combat a measles outbreak, Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain told Parliament on Wednesday. The government has launched emergency measures to contain a measles outbreak, including a nationwide vaccination drive and the procurement of millions of doses to replenish depleted stocks, he said responding to concerns raised by opposition lawmaker Rumeen Farhana during her call attention notice on urgent public important matters. Tk 604 crore from unused Asian Development Bank pandemic funds has been reallocated for emergency procurement and 21.9 million doses have been secured through Gavi support while an additional procurement worth Tk 419 crore is in its final stages, said the minister. To ensure transparency and avoid delays, the minister said the government is bypassing traditional tenders to procure directly through UNICEF. The minister said  41 deaths have been officially verified by the WHO and UNICEF as directly caused by measles. The minister announced that while a vaccination campaign began on April 5 in high-risk areas, the program will expand to Dhaka North and South city corporations and other major urban centers starting April 12. He noted that although Dhaka was not initially classified as a high-risk zone by international partners, the government is taking proactive steps to cover the capital. Acknowledging that the current administration inherited a near-zero stock of vaccines due to previous mismanagement, Husain detailed urgent financial measures to restore the supply chain. Addressing the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), the minister highlighted a shift to multi-dose vials to improve storage efficiency and meet WHO cold chain standards. He also addressed workforce shortages, stating that the government is moving to clear outstanding salaries for field-level health workers within days to ensure the vaccination drive remains effective. Earlier, Rumeen Farhana cited data suggesting higher fatalities and warned of the long-term risks of measles-induced immune suppression among children. She also raised alarms over shortages of several routine vaccines. In response, the minister assured that under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the situation is being brought under control. "The vaccine stocks are now stabilising, and we are moving forward with full preparedness to protect children’s health," he said.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain on Tuesday told parliament that necessary initiatives are being taken to recruit some 100,000 health workers in line with the current government’s election manifesto. He said this responding to a starred tabled question placed by treasury bench member elected from Naogaon-4 Ikramul Bari Tipu. The minister said the government has been working relentlessly to ensure adequate manpower to improve the quality of healthcare services and maintain continuity in service delivery across the country. He said on January 22 this year, a total of 2,984 assistant surgeons and 279 dental surgeons were recruited through the 48th BCS, while 98 assistant surgeons (MBBS) and 22 dental surgeons were appointed through the 44th BCS. Earlier, on December 18 last year, 162 assistant surgeons (MBBS doctors) were appointed through the 27th BCS.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain on Tuesday said no unauthorised and substandard clinics will be allowed to operate as part of efforts to improve the country’s healthcare services. “If any clinic fails to maintain minimum standards of medical services, it will be shut down immediately without delay,” he said. He made the remarks while talking to reporters at the Secretariat on the first working day after the Eid holidays. Special inspections and drives against private clinics in the capital will begin from Tuesday itself, he said. Strict directives have been given to ensure quality healthcare services, said the minister, adding that a ‘zero tolerance’ policy will be followed against clinic owners involved in irregularities. The monitoring drive, which begins in the capital, will be expanded gradually across the country, he added.  

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain on Thursday warned that the licence of any government doctor found seeing patients outside during official duty hours will be suspended or cancelled. The minister made the warning at a briefing on current affairs held at the conference room of the Health Ministry, said an official handout. Govt moving to restore discipline in public hospitals: Health Minister Sakhawat Hossain said Rajesh Majumder, a doctor at the 250-bed District Sadar Hospital in Shariatpur, had been summoned to the ministry on Wednesday for seeing patients at a private chamber in the local Modern City Hospital during office hours. He said the doctor will be suspended from his job and a departmental case will be filed following due procedures. The process to suspend his professional registration is also underway. The minister urged other doctors to learn from the incident. He added that action is also being taken against Modern City Hospital in Shariatpur. Drug addicts to be identified, punished through dope tests: Health Minister The health minister said intelligence surveillance is being conducted across the country to ensure that government medicines reach the public and that doctors remain present at their workplaces. He warned that if any government doctor is found absent during office hours in the future, their licence will be suspended and disciplinary action will be taken. The minister also said the government plans to recruit around 100,000 field-level health workers in various posts, including midwives, pharmacists and technologists, to improve the quality of healthcare services. Of them, 80 percent will be women.

Health Minister Sardar Shakhawat Hossain Bokul on Saturday said drug addicts will be identified through dope tests and sentenced to three months in jail as part of efforts to curb drug abuse. He made the remarks at a view-exchange meeting with district-level officials at the Narsingdi Deputy Commissioner’s Office in the afternoon. The minister said Narsingdi would be transformed into a district free from corruption, terrorism, extortion and drugs. No more running after doctors, services to reach doorsteps: Health Minister “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, I will work to implement the 31-point plan to turn Bangladesh into a modern state,” he said. Expressing gratitude to the voters for electing him, the minister sought cooperation from all to make Narsingdi and the entire country free from drugs, terrorism and extortion. Emphasising the need for a corruption-free and humane social system, he said, “We will continue to fight corruption and terrorism shoulder to shoulder.” Health Minister announces on-the-spot monitoring of doctors’ services He also said law enforcement agencies are capable of performing their duties effectively. “There is no work that the police cannot do. If we MPs and ministers commit any wrongdoing, you DCs and SPs should complain to the Prime Minister against us,” he added. The minister further announced plans to establish a medical college and a university in Narsingdi. Newly elected MP of Narsingdi-1 (Sadar) constituency and district BNP President Khairul Kabir Khokon, MP of Narsingdi-3 (Shibpur) constituency and district BNP General Secretary Manjur Elahi, and MP of Narsingdi-5 (Raipura) constituency Engineer Ashraf Uddin Bakul, among others, spoke as special guests at the meeting, chaired by Narsingdi Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Anwar Hossain.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain on Thursday said  on-site inspections will be conducted to ensure doctors are providing proper services to patients. He made the announcement at a meeting on the overall activities of the ministry at the conference room of the ministry at Secretariat. The minister said the government wants to ensure the highest level of services at hospitals and would work in line with the instructions and message of the Prime Minister. “We will make immediate visits to see whether on-duty doctors are providing services properly. Everyone will have to be accountable. We must ensure that our activities benefit the general people,” he said, adding that no syndicate would be given any undue advantage. He also said the Prime Minister has directed that services must be provided equally to all. Senior officials of the ministry and heads of subordinate departments and agencies were also present at the meeting.  

Health Minister Dr. Samanta Lal Sen on Tuesday said that Bangladesh has made continuous progress in the pharmaceutical industry as 98 percent of the country's total demand for  medicine is now produced locally. “Almost all medicines produced in Bangladesh are being exported to 157 countries of the world,” he said. With Pahela Falgun-Valentine’s Day, the nation eyes a festive February 14 In response to the question of independent MP elected from Dhaka-19 Muhammad Saiful Islam, the minister said that incentives are being given by the government to encourage the export of medicines produced in the country. “As a part of this, incentives are being given at the rate of 10 percent this year,” he said. Govt okays project to provide freelancing training to youths in 48 districts Responding to Awami League MP elected from Laxmipur-1 Anwar Khan, the minister said that medicines worth Tk 59 billion have been exported in the first six months till December of the current financial year. In response to independent MP elected from Laxmipur-4 Md Abdullah, the health minister said that about 32 types of medicines are being provided to community clinics and 105 types of medicines to government hospitals free of cost. Commerce Ministry names 77 industries winners of export trophy for FY21-22