State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Professor Dr M A Muhit today inaugurated the Measles-Rubella Vaccination Campaign-2026 at Shahjadpur Upazila Health Complex. Photo : BSS

SIRAJGANJ, April 20, 2026 (BSS)- State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Professor Dr M A Muhit today called for vaccinating the children timely to prevent measles.

“After 2020, another emergency vaccination campaign should have been conducted in 2025, but it did not take place due to policy missteps of the then government,” he said.

Dr M A Muhit said this while inaugurating the Measles-Rubella Vaccination Campaign-2026 at Shahjadpur Upazila Health Complex here today.

The state minister highlighted longstanding issues in the health sector, saying over the past 15 years, mismanagement and widespread corruption created significant obstacles in health sector. 

Field-level health workers were often unable to perform their duties effectively with many facing problems related to salaries and allowances, he added.

Dr. Muhit said that within just 15 days of the present government taking office, a surge in measles cases was observed and immediate steps were taken to treat and contain the outbreak.

He added that vaccination efforts were rolled out in phases-first targeting high-risk areas, followed by five major city corporations and have now expanded to nationwide.

Under this campaign, approximately 17.8 million children will be administered vaccines of measles and rubella.

Civil Surgeon of Sirajganj Dr. Md. Nurul Amin and Shahjadpur Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr. Masud Rana were present, among others, on the occasion.