68,540 children to get measles-rubella vaccines in Sylhet city
Published: 19 April 2026, 11:15:20
Photo : SCC Administrator Abdul Qayyum Chowdhury speaking at a meeting on the measles-rubella vaccination campaign held at Nagar Bhaban on Sunday.
A total of 68,540 children will be vaccinated under the measles-rubella campaign in the Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) area, officials announced at a coordination meeting on Sunday.
Dr Md Zahidul Islam, Chief Health Officer of SCC, said the campaign will be implemented in two phases. In the first phase, vaccination will be carried out at the community level across all 42 wards. In the second phase, the program will extend to educational institutions. A total of 84 teams will be deployed daily, each consisting of two vaccinators and three volunteers. The campaign will run for eight working days at the community level and six working days in schools.
He added that regular immunization centers within SCC will serve as community vaccination points. Children who miss the scheduled dates will still be able to receive the vaccine later at permanent centers.
The nationwide campaign will begin on Monday, including Sylhet city. Under this month-long initiative, all children aged between 6 months and under 5 years will receive a single dose of the vaccine.
Speaking at the meeting held at Nagar Bhaban, SCC Administrator Abdul Qayyum Chowdhury said the government remains committed to ensuring healthcare services for citizens, particularly protecting children from infectious diseases. “We are working to make this campaign a success and ensure that every child in Sylhet is protected,” he said.
Despite limited manpower, additional staff and volunteers will be engaged to ensure smooth implementation, he added. The campaign will be formally inaugurated at 10:00 am on Monday at Agragami Girls’ High School and College by Industries and Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir.
Highlighting the importance of awareness, the SCC administrator urged media professionals to play an active role in informing the public. He also called on religious leaders, including imams and priests, to encourage participation through sermons and community outreach.
“Due to lack of awareness, many children often miss vaccinations. Parents must be motivated so that no child is left out,” he said.
SCC Secretary Md Ashik Noor, WHO representative Dr Fazlul Quader, and UNICEF representative Dr Navjyoti De also spoke at the meeting.
