Chittagong to Vaccinate 300,000 Children Against Measles-Rubella

The Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) has finalised plans to launch a comprehensive month-long vaccination campaign targeting over 300,000 children across 41 wards. The initiative, aimed at children aged between 6 months and 59 months, was officially announced by the Mayor of Chittagong, Dr Shahadat Hossain.

Addressing a press conference held on Thursday, 16 April, at the Chittagong City Corporation Public Library conference room, Mayor Hossain detailed the logistical framework and health objectives of the drive. The campaign is scheduled to commence on 20 April and will continue until 20 May.

Strategic Target and Operational Logistics

The campaign intends to provide the Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine to a specific target of 300,300 children residing within the seven administrative zones of the city. To ensure total coverage, the CCC health department has established a diverse range of vaccination teams and sessions. This includes permanent centres for routine access and mobile or temporary teams to reach deeper into residential areas.

The operational breakdown of the vaccination teams is as follows:

The vaccination services will be available daily from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. To facilitate efficient data management, parents and guardians are encouraged to register their children online using their birth registration numbers. However, the Mayor clarified that the absence of a registration number would not be a barrier to service; no child will be excluded from the programme due to a lack of documentation.

Focus on Vulnerable Populations and Health Risks

A significant portion of the campaign’s resources will be directed towards identifying and vaccinating children living in high-risk environments, such as urban slums and densely populated areas where disease transmission rates are traditionally higher. The “mop-up” teams are specifically tasked with conducting outreach in these regions to ensure no child is overlooked.

During the conference, Mayor Dr Shahadat Hossain emphasised the medical necessity of the drive. He noted that measles is a highly contagious viral disease that poses a severe threat to a child’s immune system. He stated that the infection can lead to secondary complications, including pneumonia, diarrhoea, malnutrition, and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). Consequently, universal vaccination is deemed essential to prevent long-term health complications or fatalities.

Collaborative Oversight and Institutional Support

The Measles-Rubella campaign is a collaborative effort involving several national and international health organisations. While the CCC and the local Health Department are the primary implementers, the programme is supported by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. International technical and logistical support is provided by UNICEF, Gavi (the Vaccine Alliance), and the World Health Organization (WHO).

The press briefing was attended by several high-ranking health officials, including the Divisional Director of Health (Chittagong), Sheikh Fazle Rabbi; Civil Surgeon Dr Jahangir Alam; CCC Chief Health Officer Dr Md. Imam Hossain Rana; UNICEF Health Officer Dr Delwar Hossain; and the WHO Divisional Coordinator Dr Imong Pro Chowdhury. The collective presence of these officials underscores the multi-agency commitment to eradicating Measles and Rubella within the metropolitan area.