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Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain has said a nationwide special measles vaccination campaign will begin towards the end of this month, with the government already ensuring an adequate supply of vaccines.
The first phase of measles vaccination has already been completed in all districts except Rangamati and Bandarban in the Chattogram Hill Tracts, he said.
The minister made the remarks while speaking to journalists after inspecting Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital on Friday (September 4). Local lawmaker and Commerce, Industries, Textiles and Jute Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir was also present.
Before speaking to the media, the health minister held a meeting with hospital officials, senior doctors and nurses, where he gave directives on improving healthcare services and reducing patients’ suffering.
During the inspection, Sakhawat highlighted the government’s progress in the health sector and its commitment to implementing its electoral manifesto.
“Since the government took office, visible changes have taken place in the country’s health sector. Recently, I have visited more than 25 hospitals across the country. Based on my experience, I can say that over the past six months, the quality of healthcare services has improved significantly in every hospital, and I found 100 percent attendance of doctors,” he said.
He added that patients had reported significant improvements in doctors’ behaviour, service quality, food standards, bed cleanliness and the overall hospital environment.
Regarding the overall management, drainage system and cleanliness of Osmani Medical College Hospital, the minister said doctors’ punctuality and duty compliance would be ensured within seven working days.
“If there are any problems with drainage or cleanliness, the local administration and relevant authorities have been instructed to resolve them within seven days,” he said.
He also announced that work on other government hospitals in Sylhet that are under construction or have already been approved would be expedited so they could be opened soon.
Acknowledging limitations in the health sector, Sakhawat said there is currently only one doctor and one nurse for every 11,000 to 12,000 people in the country.
“Healthcare workers are working tirelessly day and night to serve such a large population. The government is determined to eliminate irregularities from the past and ensure healthcare reaches the people,” he said.
The minister said a special “mop-up” and intensified vaccination programme had already been launched for children who were missed under the routine immunisation programme.
He said many children remain unvaccinated due to a lack of awareness and information. Although around 24 million children received vitamin A capsules during a previous campaign and a large number were vaccinated against measles, rubella and other diseases against a target of 18.5 million, some children were missed and subsequently became vulnerable to measles.
After the main campaign ended on May 20, the mop-up programme for missed children began on May 21. Thousands of additional children, particularly in Sylhet and other haor and remote areas, have been brought under vaccination coverage beyond the original target.
The nationwide special vaccination campaign will resume on a larger scale towards the end of this month, he said.
The minister also issued a stern warning against brokers who mislead patients at government hospitals and take them to private clinics.
“Deceiving ordinary people is a serious crime. Joint operations are being conducted with various law enforcement agencies, including RAB, DGFI and NSI, to eliminate this network,” he said.
He said numerous brokers had already been arrested during raids at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital and other facilities.
“Although it is difficult to eliminate overnight or within six months all the administrative complications and irregularities that have accumulated over the past 17 years, the government is working with a zero-tolerance policy to restore discipline in the health sector,” he added.