Dhaka, May 21 (IANS). Measles is becoming more dangerous day by day in Bangladesh. Amidst the increasing cases, UNICEF claimed that it had already warned the country’s former interim government several times about the shortage of vaccines. According to the organization, it had informed about the shortage of vaccine through meetings and letters with the Health Ministry.
UNICEF representative in Bangladesh, Rana Flowers, said during a press briefing in Dhaka that the organization had sent 5–6 letters to the health ministry on the issue and had raised the issue in about 10 meetings.
Daily Star has published his statement. Rana said that between 2024 and 2026, it was continuously warned that due to lack of vaccine, a major health crisis could arise.
According to the report, UNICEF also said that its Deputy Executive Director Ted Shayban had also raised the issue in a meeting with the Ministry of External Affairs during his visit to Bangladesh in August last year.
The organization also clarified that it will provide evidence and cooperation in the investigation of the measles outbreak, which has been initiated by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) government.
Bangladesh Health Minister Saqwat Hossain claimed that the current government inherited a serious vaccine shortage, and when Tariq Rahman took over as prime minister, not a single dose was available in stock.
According to reports, 481 children have died due to measles or similar symptoms in the country since March, while about 66,000 cases have been confirmed or suspected to be infected.
UNICEF said that a major reason for the problem was the delay in the vaccine procurement process, because the government had changed the procurement system, which affected the supply.
–IANS
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