Govt determined to prevent measles outbreak: : State Minister for Health

State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Professor Dr. MA Muhit said that the government is committed to preventing measles outbreak in the country within the next few days, and said that 30 high-risk upazilas in 18 districts of the country have been identified by analyzing data through scientific methods. The ministry has started a special vaccination program on an emergency basis since April 5 to control the infection in these areas.

He said these things at the inauguration ceremony of the Measles-Rubella Vaccination Campaign-2026 at Ershad Field in Karail slum in the capital on Sunday (April 12).

The State Minister for Health said, we have started vaccination activities in major city corporations of Bangladesh in phases. In addition, this measles vaccination program will start across the country from the 20th.

He said, under the able leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, we do not have time to wait even a minute. We are doing these works with utmost importance and speed. You have to convey those words to the people. Then, with the hope and dream that the people have given us their votes and support to build a new democracy from a tyrannical Bangladesh, we will be able to fulfill that dream. We will be able to retain that support.

Stating that we have been working day and night since coming to the government, Professor Dr. MA Muhit said, people often say that we politicians come during the election and then forget. And this campaign is an opportunity.

The State Minister said, on the one hand, measles spreads quickly, on the other hand, it is also quite easy to prevent it through vaccination at the right time. It basically works like 'hard immunity' or group immunity. That is, if a large part of a specific population can be vaccinated and immunity can be created, then all the children in that area will be protected. If most of the children can be included in this vaccination program, there will be no more chance of measles spreading.

In addition, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Administrator Shafiqul Islam Milton was present at the event. He said that DNCC does not have its own general hospital. However, we have a facility in Mohakhali, which is currently known as the Covid Hospital. I have discussed this with the State Minister for Health. I want to provide healthcare to the city residents under our management in our own building of Dhaka North City Corporation. For that purpose, we want to build a full-fledged general hospital there.

Also present at the inauguration ceremony were Brigadier General Imrul Kayes Chowdhury, Chief Health Officer of Dhaka North City Corporation, Abdus Sattar Patwary, Prime Minister's Research Officer, members of UNICEF and WHO delegations, and many others.