RANGPUR, Dec 17, 2020 (BSS) – About seven lakh children from 9 months to under 10-year age group will be immunized with one dose of measles-rubella (MR) vaccine in the forthcoming Measles-Rubella Campaign-2020 in the district.
Civil Surgeon (CS) Dr. Herambo Kumar Roy disclosed the information at a press conference on “Measles-Rubella Campaign-2020′ arranged by the Civil Surgeon Office at its conference room in the city this afternoon.
The Expanded Programme on Immunization of Directorate General of Health Services, World Health Organisation, GAVI and UNICEF will extend assistance in arranging the campaign abiding by the health directives in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic
The CS said the campaign would be conducted in the district from December 19 to January 31 next at community levels in 18 wards of Rangpur City Corporation and all eight upazilas across the district.
Deputy Civil Surgeon Dr. Kaniz Sabiha and Surveillance Medical Officer of the Immunization and Vaccine Development Programme of WHO at the Civil Surgeon’s Office Dr Md. Mahbubul Islam spoke.
The Civil Surgeon said six lakh 87 thousand and 132 children of the 9 months to under 10-year age group (class one to four) would be immunised with one dose of MR vaccine during the six-week long campaign at community levels.
“A total of 546 field level health workers and 795 volunteers will conduct immunization of children during the campaign at the 6,369 vaccination centres daily except Fridays and government holidays every week,” he said.
He said students from class one to four of primary level educational institutions will get one dose of MR vaccine in the campaign for ensuring immunization to cent percent targeted children for protecting them from various diseases.
“Rubella infection among women, especially among pregnant mothers, may pass the virus to fetus resulting in miscarriage or congenital defects those might cause cataracts, glaucoma and congenital heart disease to the newborns,” he said.
Terming measles-rubella as one of the most infectious diseases, Deputy Civil Surgeon Dr. Kaniz Sabiha stressed on enhancing public awareness through mass publicity to ensure vaccination to cent percent of the targeted age group children.
She called upon the journalists for raising public awareness to make the forthcoming Measles-Rubella Campaign-2020 a complete success in the city.
She sought media cooperation in raising public awareness to make the forthcoming Measles-Rubella Campaign-2020 a complete success for ensuring immunization of cent percent targeted children across the district.