Deputy WHO Representative to Bangladesh Dr Rajesh Narwal on Saturday called for urgent efforts to reach 3.4 million children who remain vulnerable to measles after missing earlier vaccination campaigns, as measles transmission continues in Bangladesh.
“Bangladesh has shown remarkable leadership by promptly launching the nationwide campaign in April, when we started to see the surge in measles cases," he said while delivering his speech at the launch of Intensified Measles-Rubella Catch-up Vaccination Campaign in Dhaka.
He said they know from the epidemiological and hospital data; and from the communities around them, that measles transmission continues while children are still suffering from measles.
The WHO official said approximately 20 million children have been reached with the measles-rubella vaccine. "However, the work is not yet complete.”
On the scale and urgency of the campaign, Dr Rajesh said 3.4 million children - 36 days - it is a huge task. "It’s more than one lakh children every day. But we should not wait for the last day. We have to start our work now. We have to start looking for children and reaching all the missed children who remain vulnerable.”
He said WHO remains fully committed to supporting the Government of Bangladesh, not just with the catch-up campaign, but in strengthening routine immunization, enhancing disease surveillance, improving outbreak response and ensuring that no child is left behind.
To parents and caregivers, Dr Rajesh said: “If your child missed vaccination by any chance in the earlier campaign, please, please get them vaccinated now."
He said the vaccine is highly effective, and it is safe for the child to 8. "This is the best investment you can make in your child’s future and health.”
To community and religious leaders, Dr Rajesh said: “Please mobilize the eligible children."
"Look around your communities and see who was missed, and encourage them to go to the nearest vaccination site. Also, help facilitate the work of our vaccination teams.”
Dr Rajesh urged the health workers to continue to maintain the highest standards of vaccination practice.
"Maintain the cold chain. Reach every last child and ensure that parents and caregivers receive appropriate information about what to expect after vaccination.”
“Most importantly, look in the communities to reach the last child who is left behind.”
To the media, Dr Rajesh said: “You play an important role in fighting misinformation and disinformation about vaccination. Please do that role diligently.”
“By working together, and ensuring that every eligible child is reached, he said he is confident that Bangladesh will be able to interrupt transmission very soon.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain spoke as the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of the nationwide special measles-rubella (MR) vaccination campaign-2026 at the T&T playground at Korail in the city’s Banani area.
Health Services Division Secretary Dr ANM Bazlur Rashid, Additional Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Professor Dr Md Zahid Raihan, Representative of UNICEF in Bangladesh Gillian Mellsop attended the programme as guests of honour.
