Bangladesh steps into 4th yr as a polio-free country today

Health Minister Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain speaks at a press briefing on the occasion of three years of polio-free Bangladesh at the PID conference room yesterday. Photo: PID

"Though Bangladesh is now a polio-free country, but we are not yet free form the danger as there are polio victims in our neighbouring country," Health and Family Welfare Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said yesterday.

He was addressing a news conference organised on the occasion at the PID conference room. State Minister for Health Mizanur Rahman Sinha, Health Secretary Fazlur Rahman, DG of Health Mizanur Rahman and concerned officials were present.

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The health minister said the government has set a target to give polio vaccines to 2.25 crore under-five children in the 12th National Immunization Days (NIDs), beginning January 18 next to keep up polio-free status.

He said the government has introduced various steps across the country to ensure primary healthcare for all.

As 4-5 per cent people of the country are carrying Hepatitis-B virus, the government has introduced its vaccine for children below one year of age in six divisions and Rajshahi City Corporation. The vaccine is provided free of cost.

"This is for the first time that the government is providing Hepatitis-B vaccine free of cost after seeing positive results in the field of polio, and it could not be done in previous years because of its high cost," he said.

The government is planning to set up 'auto-disable' syringe in the country, he said. "We have talked to the donors' about it."

"If we can use auto-disable syringe. It will help us a lot as it's one of the main causes that spreads the virus," the minister said adding that they have also set up 90 blood transmission and screening centres across the country while 20 more are going to be set up to ensure pure blood transmission.

"Only 20 per cent people are now donating blood voluntarily while 80 per cent blood donors are professional. So, we can say that the blood transmission centres are playing a vital role in getting pure blood," Mosharraf said.

Seeking cooperation of all in implementing the government programmes, the minister said no effort could succeed without people's awareness.