The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

Health and Family Welfare Adviser Major General (retd) Dr ASM Matiur Rahman yesterday underscored the need for establishing regional cooperation to make the region, including Bangladesh, free from polio.

"Bangladesh would never be freed from polio risk if neighbouring countries can not able to eradicate polio," he said while inaugurating the 16th National Immunisation Day (NID) at the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) Bhaban at Mohakhali here.

Under the 16th NID, polio vaccines will be given to under five children of the country on October 27 in the first round and December 8 in the second round. In the first round, a total of 2,40,00,000 under five children will be vaccinated through 1.4 lakh vaccination centres by 6,00,000 volunteers across the country.

Health and Family Welfare Secretary AKM Zafarullah Khan spoke as special guest at the inaugural session chaired by Director General of Health Service M Shahjahan Biswas.

Representative of World Health Organisation (WHO) Dr Duangvadee Songkhobol and Representative of UNICEF Louis George Arsenult also spoke on the occasion, among others.

Programme Manager of Health Services M Abdul Quader Mian presented a paper on the overview of polio eradication.

The adviser said side by side with observing the NID, the regular vaccination programme needs to be further strengthened for protecting the children from other infectious diseases. "We had been free from polio 2001 to 2005, but unfortunately polio case was reported in 2006 which was transmitted from neighbour country, he said, adding, due to relentless efforts of our health workers we remain polio free for last one year.

Dr Matiur said the country's EPI programme has been praised in international arena, and the success in reducing mother and child mortality rate was also applauded by the international community.

The last NDI, he said, covered 98 percent of the children across the country and the government would introduce boat ambulances soon to reach the children who live in char areas and waterbodies of the country.

The adviser urged all guardians to come to the vaccination centres on October 27 to help the nation free from polio.

Clinic-in-charge of the EPI Headquarters Dr Jahan Afroz told BSS that on October 27 vitamin capsules would also be given to the children those are 1 to 5 years with two drops of polio vaccine and the children under one year would receive one drop of polio vaccine, she said.

Vaccination centres will be set up at bus stops, rail stations and airports to give polio vaccines to the street children, Dr Jahan Afroz added.

Earlier, the adviser administered polio vaccines to 15 children as part of the inaugural function. A colourful rally was also brought out to mark the day.