Over 3 lakh children in Chattogram City Corporation to get measles vaccine: Mayor
The campaign will run from 20 April to 20 May, targeting 3,00,300 children for vaccination.
More than three lakh children in Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) aged between 6 and 59 months will be brought under a month-long Measles-Rubella vaccination campaign, said the corporation's Mayor Shahadat Hossain.
The campaign will run from 20 April to 20 May, targeting 3,00,300 children for vaccination, he said at a press conference at the CCC Public Library conference room today (16 April).
The mayor said measles is a highly contagious disease that weakens immunity in children and can lead to complications such as pneumonia, diarrhoea, malnutrition and even brain inflammation. He stressed the importance of ensuring vaccination for every child.
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According to CCC sources, the campaign will be conducted across 41 wards under seven zones of the city. A total of 48 fixed teams, 205 mobile teams, 41 mop-up teams, and 14 evening vaccination sessions have been formed for the drive.
Vaccination activities will continue daily from 8am to 5pm, except on Fridays and public holidays.
The campaign will be officially inaugurated on 20 April at 10am at the CCC General Hospital auditorium.
Officials said parents are encouraged to register their children online using a 17-digit birth registration number.
However, no child will be denied vaccination due to lack of registration. Special efforts will be made to identify and vaccinate children in slums and other high-risk areas.
The mayor said all necessary preparations, including training of health workers, deployment of volunteers, coordination with religious leaders and teachers, and awareness campaigns, have already been completed.
"This programme requires the cooperation of all sections of society. Active participation of journalists, teachers, imams and professionals is essential," he said.
The programme is being implemented with support from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, UNICEF, Gavi, and the World Health Organisation (WHO).
