RAJSHAHI, Dec 10, 2020 (BSS)- Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) has launched the Measles-Rubella (MR) Campaign-2020 aimed at bringing 75,740 babies under the MR vaccination campaign scheduled to be held from December 12 to January 24 next year.
City Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton formally launched the campaign to protect the babies from various diseases through vaccinating some of the targeted babies at a press conference at the city bhaban conference hall today as the chief guest.
RCC Ward Councilor Nuruzzaman Tiku, Civil Surgeon Dr Emanul Haque, Assistant Director the Divisional Directorate of Health Dr Anwarul Kabir and Deputy Director of Department of Social Services Hasina Momtaj, among others, were present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Liton said the campaign will be conducted against MR targeting the children from nine months to below 10 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.
He urged all concerned to make the measles-rubella vaccination campaign a total success to save children’s lives. All concerned should discharge their duties with utmost sincerity and honesty to enhance awareness among the public to ensure vaccination to cent percent children.
The mayor underscored the need for raising public awareness to ensure immunization to hundred percent children to protect them from various diseases.
RCC Chief Health Officer Dr AFM Anjuman Ara Begum illustrated the aspects of the campaign in her multimedia presentation.
She said vaccination is vital for saving the lives of children clarifying 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, she added.
She told the journalists that 132 vaccinators, 700 volunteers and 60 supervisors will be deployed for the campaign. Earlier, they were imparted training so that they can make the vaccination campaign a total success.