Measles vaccine for all children up to 6 from Sept 26: Health minister

The government will launch a nationwide measles vaccination campaign on 26 September, under which all children from birth to six years of age will receive the vaccine, Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Sakhawat Hossain said today (12 September).

He made the announcement while speaking as the chief guest at the inauguration of a free medical camp at Paragaon Eidgah field in Rupganj, Narayanganj.

The minister urged BNP leaders and activists to help bring all eligible children from their homes to vaccination centres and ensure they receive the measles vaccine.

Sakhawat also called for a coordinated effort to prevent dengue, saying the government was working to fulfil Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s commitment to ensuring the good health of every citizen.

“At present, the prevalence of dengue in the country is very high,” he said.

He said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had formally inaugurated a cleanliness campaign at the South Plaza of Parliament House today.

The minister urged people to regularly clean their yards, flowerpots, discarded tyres and other places where water can accumulate and create breeding grounds for Aedes mosquitoes.

“If we can conduct cleanliness activities together, there will be no such disease as dengue in the country in the future. Everyone must start a war against dengue,” he said.

At the end of the programme, Sakhawat distributed free medical health cards among freedom fighters.

The medical camp was organised by Rupganj upazila BNP with support from local private hospitals and clinics.

Later, the minister released fish fry of different species into a pond at Paragaon Eidgah.