Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammad Nasim on Wednesday said the government will not give approval for any new medical college without review. There are scopes for review in case of 12 new medical colleges, which have already received administrative approval, he said speaking at a press conference at the health ministry conference room on measles-rubella vaccination campaign. The health minister said country’s biggest-ever immunization campaign will take place from January 25 to February 13. A total of 52 million children, one-third of the total population, between nine months and 15 years of age will receive the combined measles-rubella (MR) vaccine during the campaign, he added.
Mohammad Nasim said the government will spend Taka 512.7 crore to implement the programme.
He said 35 million children aged between nine months and 10 years got measles vaccines earlier in a catch up campaign in 2006. Later in 2010, 18 million children were vaccinated. He sought cooperation of the youth to make the huge health programme a success. The health minister said measles is a viral disease. People of all ages may be infected with the disease, but its prevalence is more among the children. Even the disease may be fatal for children, he added.
He said baby a born to a mother who contracted rubella in the early stage of pregnancy is prone to being born with heart defect, hearing and vision impairment and mental retardation. The vaccine will stop the transmission of rubella from mother to baby during pregnancy and prevent children from being born with severe defects, he added.
Mohammad Nasim said the government wants to reach health services to the doorstep of every person as per the pledge of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Zahid Malik, Health and Family Welfare Secretary MM Niaz Uddin, Director General of Health Prof. Dr. Khandaker M Sifayet Ullah, Department of Family Welfare Director General Ganesh Chandra Sarker and representatives from WHO, UNICEF, Lions International and Rotary International were present at the press conference.
