The resurgence of measles across the country has taken a serious turn, creating a new public health crisis. This highly contagious disease, especially dangerous for children, is not only putting pressure on the healthcare system but has also emerged as a major humanitarian concern. In this context, the government’s announcement to bring 1.2 million children under vaccination coverage on an emergency basis is undoubtedly a timely and necessary step.
In the National Parliament, Health Minister Sardar Sakhawat Hossain stated that considering the gravity of the situation, a vaccination campaign has been launched from April 5 in 30 high-risk upazilas across 18 districts under the special directive of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
In the first phase, children aged between 6 months and under 5 years are being covered. On the first day of the campaign, 73,000 children were vaccinated against a target of 76,000, indicating nearly 96 percent success. This is certainly a positive start, and if continued properly, a major crisis can be averted.
Measles is a viral disease that spreads very rapidly and poses serious risks to children. Although it presents common symptoms such as fever, cough, red eyes, and skin rashes, in many cases it can lead to complications like pneumonia, diarrhea, or even brain infections. Therefore, there is no alternative to vaccination as a preventive measure. Bangladesh had previously achieved notable success in controlling this disease through its national immunization program. However, in recent years, that continuity has been disrupted.
In Parliament, the Health Minister criticized previous governments, stating that no major special vaccination campaign had been conducted in the country for over five and a half years since December 2020. According to him, this negligence and failure have contributed to the current resurgence of measles and increased mortality risk. While such political statements may be subject to debate, it is evident that a prolonged gap in vaccination efforts has created significant vulnerability.
To address the situation, the government has planned to expand the vaccination program in phases. From April 12, the campaign will begin in the city corporation areas of Dhaka, Mymensingh, and Barishal, and from May 3, it will be extended to the rest of the country. At the same time, a Vitamin A capsule distribution program has already started to strengthen children’s immunity.
From a healthcare system perspective, several preparedness measures have also been highlighted. Isolation wards have been opened in government hospitals, and 250 new isolation beds are being prepared in the Rajshahi region. Alongside increasing ICU and ventilator facilities, steps have been taken to use a cost-effective oxygen flow technology developed by icddr,b, which may assist in patient treatment.
Additionally, 60.4 billion taka has been allocated to procure additional vaccines from UNICEF, and assurances of loans and grants have been received from the World Bank.
However, alongside these promising announcements, concerns about the ground reality have also emerged. Member of Parliament Akhtar Hossain alleged that more than 115 children have died from suspected measles in the past three weeks, with at least 20 confirmed deaths. He further pointed out that despite allocations on paper, many people are not receiving isolation or ICU facilities in hospitals. He also highlighted that a significant portion of the health budget remains unutilized.
These allegations cannot be ignored. Rather, they should be taken seriously and thoroughly investigated. Because when there is a gap between policy announcements and implementation, the general public; especially children, suffers the most. Therefore, ensuring effective monitoring at the field level is extremely urgent.
The Health Minister has stated that to tackle the situation, all leaves of health workers have been canceled and coordination with development partners has been strengthened. Special emphasis is also being placed on ensuring that there is no shortage of vaccines in the future. However, administrative directives alone are not enough; accountability, transparency, and effective local-level implementation are equally essential.
In conclusion, while the government’s emergency initiative to combat the measles outbreak is an important step, its success will entirely depend on proper implementation. The vaccination program is not just a health initiative"it is a national priority. Bringing every child under vaccination means ensuring a safer future. Therefore, rising above political debates and working collectively is the need of the time.
-The writer is a journalist and political analyst.
