A nationwide anti-measles vaccination campaign, largest in the world, has been undertaken to protect some 33.5 million (3.35 crore) children from death due to measles and physical complications caused by the disease, reports UNB. The campaign, costing Tk 79,10,38,000, will be conducted countrywide except Rajshahi district, Rajshahi City Corporation and Bogra district from February 25 to March 16. The decision was taken at a meeting of the national steering committee on measles at the Health Ministry Thursday with Health and Family Welfare Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain in the chair. The first phase of the campaign was implemented in Rajshahi and Bogra last September. Addressing the meeting, the Health Minister said successful observance of the National Immunisation Day to eliminate polio and the success of the first phase of the measles campaign has encouraged the government to undertake this massive programme to reduce child mortality from measles to the desired level. With the implementation of the programme, steps would be taken to maintain the quality of vaccination, he said. Mosharraf directed the appropriate organisation to ensure uninterrupted power supply at all Upazila Health Complexes by repairing generators and, if necessary, temporary replacement of generators from the Family Planning Centres.
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