Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain on Sunday stressed public awareness and prevention measures to combat the growing measles and dengue situation in the country.
“If breastfeeding, nutritious food, cleanliness, isolation and timely vaccination can be ensured, both measles and dengue can largely be brought under control,” he said at a seminar at the National Press Club in Dhaka.
The seminar, titled “Public Awareness and Prevention are the Best Ways to Control Measles and Dengue”, was organised by the Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB).
The minister said the government must place greater emphasis on prevention and awareness instead of relying only on treatment.
Children aged between six and nine months are now being infected with measles due to malnutrition and lack of breastfeeding, although it was previously believed they remained protected through immunity from breast milk, he said.
Highlighting the risks of measles, Sakhawat said many patients later develop pneumonia, while secondary infections also cause deaths even after recovery from measles.
He said the country faced a major shortfall in regular measles vaccination after 2020.
“At one stage, there was no measles vaccine in the country,” the minister said.
Vaccines were later collected on an emergency basis with support from UNICEF and Gavi following instructions from the Prime Minister, he added. The minister said the measles death rate is now declining.
A vaccination campaign began on 5 April in 30 upazilas across 18 affected districts before being expanded nationwide, including in four city corporations, he said.
Health workers are now identifying unvaccinated children through door-to-door campaigns, while the number of infections has also declined significantly, he added.
Holy Family Hospital Associate Professor of Community Medicine Dr Farhana Haque presented the keynote paper on measles, while DAB Research Editor Dr Md Sayem presented the keynote paper on dengue awareness.
DAB Acting President Professor Dr Md Abul Kenan chaired the seminar.
Former DAB Secretary General and MP Dr Md Abdus Salam, DAB Secretary General Dr Md Jahirul Islam Shakil and Chief Adviser Professor Dr Farhad Halim Donar attended as special guests.
