To help prevent the spread of measles, BRAC is supporting the nationwide vaccination campaign that began today, Monday, by providing medical supplies and field-level support.
As part of the initiative, BRAC is supplying 15 lakh syringes. Around 24,000 BRAC community health workers across 36 districts will also support efforts to bring children to vaccination centres. Under the government's Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), vaccination activities began on 20 April across all upazilas, districts, municipalities and city corporations nationwide. Earlier, on 5 April, a measles-rubella vaccination campaign for children aged between six months and five years was launched in 30 high-risk upazilas and 13 municipalities across 18 districts following a measles outbreak in the country.
Among its support measures for the measles-rubella vaccination campaign, BRAC is providing 15 lakh mixing syringes to the EPI. Of these, 2.16 lakh syringes were delivered on 18 April. As of 20 April, a total of 6.48 lakh syringes have been handed over, with the remaining syringes to be supplied in phases by 30 April.
Regarding the initiative, Senior Director of BRAC's Health Programme Dr Md Akramul Islam said, "BRAC is proud to be a partner of the Government of Bangladesh in this important vaccination programme. We remain firmly committed to ensuring that this life-saving vaccine reaches every child. We are also dedicated to further strengthening the country's public health system."
During the special vaccination campaign, BRAC's community health workers will conduct door-to-door visits across 280 upazilas in 36 districts. They will encourage parents and guardians to bring their children to vaccination centres for immunisation.
