Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) launched an “Emergency Measles-Rubella Vaccination Campaign 2026” on Sunday, targeting more than 4,02,456 children across the city as authorities step up efforts to contain infectious diseases.
The campaign was inaugurated at the Nagar Bhaban auditorium in Dhaka, the city corporation said in a press release, with Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain attending as chief guest.
Road Transport and Highways Division and Railways State Minister Habibur Rashid Habib joined as special guest, while DSCC Administrator Bir Muktijoddha Md Abdus Salam chaired the event.
UNICEF Deputy Representative Emmanuelle Abrioux and World Health Organization Deputy Representative Dr Rajesh Narwal were also present.
The month-long campaign, running from 12 April to 11 May, will provide vaccines to children aged between six months and under five years, with services available daily from 9am to 4pm.
A total of 540 centres has been set up across the DSCC area, including 90 permanent and 450 temporary sites, to meet the vaccination target.
Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain said coordinated efforts were key to controlling measles and other infectious diseases.
“Although the programme started from the 5th in 30 upazilas across 18 districts, from today it has begun simultaneously in four major city corporations — Dhaka South, Dhaka North, Mymensingh and Barishal,” he said.
He also referred to the rapid launch of an ICU unit at the Infectious Disease Hospital in Mohakhali and thanked UNICEF and the World Health Organization for their support, while urging residents to remain alert to dengue risks.
Habibur Rashid Habib said the rising prevalence of measles was a concern and that the government was giving the campaign the highest priority.
He called on the media to raise awareness, particularly among working-class parents, about the importance of vaccination, and said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was working towards a safer and healthier Bangladesh.
In his remarks, Md Abdus Salam said the current situation stemmed from past negligence but added that the city authority was determined to bring every child under vaccination coverage.
He stressed the need to build awareness at the grassroots level, reaching neighbourhoods across the city.
Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services Professor Dr Pratap Chandra Biswas and senior DSCC officials also attended the programme.
Officials urged guardians to take children to the nearest centres for vaccination.
Following the inauguration, the DSCC administrator and the state minister visited the Nagar Matrisadan centre in Khilgaon to observe vaccination activities and participate in a cleanliness drive.
