Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain said a measles vaccination campaign will begin nationwide towards the end of this month.
He made the statement while speaking to reporters after inspecting Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital on Friday, where Commerce, Industry, Textiles and Jute Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir was also present.
He said adequate vaccine supplies have already been ensured under government arrangements. The first phase of measles vaccination has been completed in all districts except the hill districts of Rangamati and Bandarban.
Before speaking to reporters, the health minister held a meeting with hospital officials, senior doctors and nurses and gave directives on improving service quality and reducing patients’ difficulties.
Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain said: “Since the government took office, visible changes have taken place in the country’s health sector. Recently, I have inspected more than 25 hospitals across the country. From my experience, I can say that over the past 6 months, the quality of medical services in every hospital has improved several times compared with before, and I have found 100% attendance of doctors.”
He said: “After speaking with patients, I learned that there have been significant improvements in doctors’ behavior, service quality, food quality, bed cleanliness and the overall environment.”
Regarding the management, drainage system and cleanliness of Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital, he said: “Within the next 7 working days, timely attendance and proper duty by doctors at this hospital will be ensured. Local administration and the concerned authorities have been instructed to resolve any problems with drainage or cleanliness within 7 days.”
He also said work on other government hospitals under construction or already approved in Sylhet would be completed quickly and the facilities opened soon.
Acknowledging limitations in the health sector, the minister said: “Currently, there is only 1 doctor and 1 nurse serving every 11,000 to 12,000 people in the country. Health workers are working tirelessly day and night for this huge population. The government is committed to eliminating irregularities from the past and delivering healthcare services to the people.”
Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain said a special “mop-up” and intensified vaccination program had been launched for children who remain outside the targets of the routine immunization program.
He said many children miss vaccinations due to a lack of awareness and information.
In the previous campaign, around 24 million children were given vitamin A capsules, while a large number of children were vaccinated against measles-rubella and other diseases against a target of 18.5 million. However, some children remained unvaccinated, creating risks of measles among them.
The main campaign ended on 20 May, while the “mop-up” program for children left out began on May 12.
Thousands of additional children, particularly in Sylhet and haor and remote areas, have been brought under vaccination beyond the original target. The campaign will resume on a larger scale towards the end of this month.
The minister also warned against broker rings that mislead patients at government hospitals and take them to private clinics.
He said: “Deceiving ordinary people is a serious crime. Joint operations are being conducted in coordination with law enforcement agencies including Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) and National Security Intelligence (NSI) to eliminate this ring. Numerous brokers have already been arrested through drives at several locations including Dhaka Medical and Suhrawardy hospitals. Although it is difficult to eliminate all administrative complications and irregularities accumulated over the past 17 years overnight or within 6 months, the government is working with a ‘zero tolerance’ policy on discipline in the health sector.”
Asked about banning the sale of hydrosulfite, he said the substance is imported by the government for use in yarn factories and stopping its import would bring the country’s garment industry to a halt.
He said authorities are trying to eliminate misuse of the substance through operations.
On how consumers can become more aware, he said: “Consumers should directly ask shopkeepers whether hydrosulfite has been added to the Jilapi. If it has been added, they should avoid buying Jilapi from that shop. This is not something that can be tested immediately. The kit available to us can detect hydrosulfite only in jaggery; no kit has yet been developed to detect hydrosulfite in Jilapi.”
During the hospital inspection, Khandakar Abdul Muktadir said 3 major projects are being implemented to improve healthcare services in Sylhet.
As part of the projects, a specialized children’s hospital and the incomplete 450-bed cancer institute will soon be completed and opened. The health minister has already issued necessary instructions to complete the remaining work of the cancer institute.
The process of opening the previously announced 250-bed hospital is also continuing.
Khandakar Abdul Muktadir said: “Alongside the establishment of a medical university in Sylhet and various initiatives by Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC), the launch of these health projects will bring a major and positive change to healthcare services across the region.”
Also present during the inspection were Sylhet City Corporation Administrator Abdul Qayyum Chowdhury, Sylhet Development Authority Chairman Rezaul Hasan Koyes Ludhi, Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital Director Brig Gen Dr Umar Rashed Munir and other senior local officials.