Measles outbreak: Just negligence or a wake-up call?

We thought we had beaten this enemy for good. After polio and tetanus, we had nearly said goodbye to measles too and were feeling proud about it. Nobody expected it to quietly come back and hit us this hard. Working in social development at an NGO, I follow field-level news every day sometimes it fills me with hope, sometimes with deep sadness. When I read in the newspapers that over 700 children have died from measles or measles-like illness, and nearly one lakh children are affected, my heart sinks. For those of us who work for children's health and rights, this is not just worrying it is truly frightening.

Who Is Responsible? The Interim Government — or All of Us?
These days, from tea stalls to TV talk shows, people are saying the same thing loudly: "It's all the new interim government's fault!" That may sounds‍ quite juicy, no doubt. We the Bangladeshis have a habit even if the curry lacks salt, we blame government policy! But as someone who works at the grassroots level, if I look at this honestly, I can see that this crisis did not begin today. Both past failures and present mistakes have played a role in bringing us here.

The hard truth is that the interim government cannot escape its share of responsibility. The United Nations and the World Health Organization (WHO) had warned well in advance that a major measles outbreak was likely in Bangladesh. But the government seemed too busy with other things and even after receiving that 'red alert', it was late in signing off on vaccine procurement. By the time the vaccines finally arrived, the measles virus had already gone to work. Bureaucratic delays and slow decision-making gave the disease exactly the opening it needed.

But it would also be unfair to forget the history behind this. Health experts say that a large number of the children who got sick or died had not received their regular measles-rubella vaccine for years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, our entire health system lost its rhythm, routine vaccination chains broke down. Did we move fast enough to fix that? The neglect and lack of follow-up from those earlier years is what piled up the gunpowder that exploded today.

Current Efforts to Fight Back and the Hope
Measles is a fast mover. The moment it finds even a small gap in protection, it spreads like wildfire from one house to the next, one neighborhood to another. Right now, most districts across the country have been hit. When you look inside the children's wards of hospitals packed with little ones suffering from high fever and pneumonia your heart breaks. It is a painful reminder of just how dangerous this disease has become.

But in the middle of all this frustration, there is good news too. The government is no longer sitting back and waiting. After the initial shock, the Directorate General of Health Services and the government quickly rolled up their sleeves and got to work without waiting for the next scheduled campaign. They understood that when the house is on fire, you cannot walk slowly to fetch water.

This massive task was not something the government could handle alone. So, together with UNICEF, WHO, and other national and international development partners, a bold target was set to vaccinate more than 1 crore 78 lakh children. An emergency mass vaccination campaign was launched. Our health workers went out in sun and rain, made announcements through microphones, set up camps in every neighborhood, and worked tirelessly to reach as many children as possible.

The latest government figures bring some relief. So far, more than 1 crore 72 lakh children have received the life-saving measles-rubella vaccine that is nearly 96% of the total target! This is a remarkable achievement. Field doctors are also sharing encouraging news in areas where vaccination has been completed fully, new infection numbers are beginning to fall. This is giving fresh hope to all of us who work on the ground. Yes, the authorities started slowly almost like a tortoise but they have now shifted to the speed of a cheetah. That is reassuring. The only question now is: will they keep up this pace until every single child is covered?

What NGOs Are Thinking: Is Vaccination Enough?
We NGO workers are a little picky by nature. When the government counts how many children have been vaccinated, we ask a different question who has been left out? The child in a remote river island, a distant coastal village, or a floating urban slum who has still not received a single injection who will go looking for that child? Our biggest concern is the lack of coordination within the health system. Running one big campaign and clapping for it is not enough. We need a permanent system that ensures routine vaccination never stops no matter what political or social changes happen around it. NGOs are working hard to address parents' hesitation and lack of awareness about vaccines. We believe this crisis will not be solved by press releases and seminars alone. The real solution lies in reaching to every single door.

Working Together: How We Will Overcome
Let me say this simply measles does not understand politics or ideology. It only knows one thing: an unprotected and neglected child. So, to defeat this invisible enemy, everyone must come together — the government, NGOs, civil society, the media, and community people. We must all stand shoulder to shoulder and progress.

The government's job; first, make ensure the vaccine supply chain the cold chain never breaks down. Second, share honest data openly which areas have low vaccination rates, which children are being missed. Hiding information never hides a disease. It only makes the crisis worse.

The NGOs' responsibility; strengthen the government's reach at the grassroots level. Go to the hard-to-reach places remote river islands, tea gardens, hill areas, and urban slums and raise awareness. Our job is not just to count campaigns numbers. It is to physically find every missed child and bring them to the vaccination center.

The role of religious leaders, local influencers, and the media; in many rural areas, rumors and myths about vaccines spread easily. This is where mosque imams, school teachers, and local community leaders must step forward. A few words about the importance of vaccination during Friday prayers or at the start of a school day can remove a lot of fear and doubt. The media, too, should go beyond reporting death tolls, they should tell people where to get vaccinated and why it works.

The energy of young people; whenever the youth of Bangladesh have been given a good cause, they have made history. If local youth clubs and young volunteers take a simple pledge 'no child in our area will be left unvaccinated' mothers will bring their children to the center before any government worker even knocks on the door. Channeling this youthful energy into the vaccination drive is the needs of the time.

The role of community people; we cannot keep blaming fortune or the government and do nothing ourselves. The government or an NGO may bring the vaccine to doorstep but taking your child to the center is your responsibility. Not just your own child check on the neighbor’s child too. When you hear that a vaccination camp is nearby, do not say 'I am busy today' and let it pass. Take your child with love and care. Remember, awareness does not cost money it is not an expensive drink or an imported medicine. It only takes a little willingness, a small step of care. If each one of us plays our part, we can push not just measles, but any disease, right out of our borders.

The ultimate truth—never back down
History bears witness that Bangladesh is a resilient nation, rising like a phoenix from the ashes of numerous pandemics and disasters. Our glorious history whether in controlling diarrhea through ORS, eradicating polio, or overcoming the recent COVID-19 pandemic is the direct result of NGOs and the government working shoulder to shoulder.

Yes, measles has shaken us. It has taken the lives of some of our dearest children and left our hearts empty. But this grief is not meant to stop us it is meant to make us stand stronger. The tireless hands of our vaccinators, the watchful eyes of mothers, and the determination of our field workers all say the same thing there is no room for defeat in this fight.

Just as the sun always shines after the clouds pass, this dark cloud of measles will also lift through our combined efforts and shared resolve. We will smile again. Our children will play freely once more in dusty courtyards, without fear on a bright, disease-free morning that is surely on its way.