RAJSHAHI, Feb 23, 2020 (BSS) – Health experts at a meeting here today urged all concerned to make the forthcoming three-weeklong measles-rubella
vaccination campaign from February 29 a total success to save children’s lives.
They unanimously underscored the need for raising public awareness to
ensure immunization to hundred percent children to protect them from various
diseases.
Divisional Director (Health) office organized the advocacy meeting on
Measles-Rubella Campaign 2020 in its conference hall discussing and devising
ways and means on how to make the campaign a total success collectively.
Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) and Directorate General of
Health Services supported the meeting. Civil Surgeons and Deputy Directors of
Department of Family Planning from all eight districts, divisional level
government officials and other stakeholders attended the meeting and took
part in its open discussion.
Chaired by Divisional Director of Health Dr Gopendra Nath Acharya, the
meeting was addressed, among others, by Divisional Director of Department of
Family Planning Shafiqul Islam, Superintendent of Police Abdus Salam and
Deputy Director of Health Dr Habibul Ahsan Talukder.
During his keynote presentation, Dr AKM Kamruzzaman, Divisional
Coordinator of World Health Organization, gave an overview of the campaign
and its aspects.
Dr Gopendra Nath said vaccination is vital for saving lives of children.
So all concerned should discharge their duties with utmost sincerity and
honesty to enhance awareness among the public to ensure vaccination to cent
percent children.
He added that the campaign will be conducted against measles and rubella
(MR) targeting the children from 9 months to under 15 years of age. Each of
the children will be vaccinated with one dose of MR vaccine irrespective of
their previous vaccination status. The mass vaccination is expected to have
an impact to eliminate measles and control rubella.
Dr Gopen clarified that measles is one of the most infectious human
diseases and can cause serious illness including death.
However, rubella infection among women, especially during early 3 months
of pregnancy, has 90 percent chance to pass the virus to fetus resulting in
miscarriage, fetal death, or congenital defects known as congenital rubella
syndrome (CRS). The defects include cataracts, glaucoma and congenital heart
disease, he added.