Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hussain inaugurated the cholera vaccination campaign at DSCC auditorium in Dhaka. Photo : BSS

DHAKA, Aug 20, 2026 (BSS) - Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hussain has urged people to seek timely treatment without delay if they contract cholera.

“Cholera is a preventable disease, but if treatment is not provided on time, it can cause death due to dehydration,” he said while inaugurating the ‘Preventive Oral Cholera Vaccination Campaign-2026’ at the auditorium of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC).

The minister said safe water, improved sanitation, healthy living practices and effective disease surveillance, alongside oral cholera vaccination, are important public health tools for preventing and controlling cholera.

Emphasising the importance of disease prevention, Sakhawat said, “We are not limiting ourselves to taking measures only after an outbreak of a disease occurs. Rather, we are moving towards identifying disease risks and taking preventive measures in advance.”

The Health and Family Welfare Minister said, “We want to build a health system where people will not simply wait for treatment after falling ill. Rather, risks will be identified before diseases occur, preventive measures will be taken and necessary services will be delivered to people’s doorsteps.”

On the effective use of technology, he said digital health management systems are being used effectively. People in the relevant areas will receive their own e-health cards by registering on the VAXEPI platform. This will make it easier and more accurate to record vaccination information, monitor coverage, supervise the programme and conduct subsequent evaluations.

In 14 high-risk upazilas across the country, the first dose of the cholera vaccine will be administered from August 22 to September 21, and the second dose from September 26 to October 25. For complete protection, both doses must be taken at an interval of 14 days. All citizens aged one year and above, except pregnant women, will receive the oral vaccine free of charge from 8:00am to 5:00pm. A total of 51.75 lakh people across the country have been targeted for vaccination.

Under the DSCC, around 11.70 lakh people will be vaccinated through 192 centres in 17 wards of four thanas — Lalbagh, Gandaria, Kadamtali and Kamrangirchar. The campaign will also be conducted in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Khilkhet and Tejgaon thanas under Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), as well as in selected areas of Munshiganj, Kishoreganj, Narayanganj and Brahmanbaria districts.

DSCC Administrator and valiant freedom fighter Md. Abdus Salam attended the programme as the special guest.

He said, “Based on our experience of successfully implementing EPI activities in densely populated areas, including Old Dhaka, we are committed to making this cholera vaccination campaign successful in the 17 wards as well.”

Among others, Health Services Division Additional Secretary Sheikh Momena Moni, DSCC Chief Executive Officer Md. Khaibar Rahman, UNICEF Deputy Representative Peter George L. Mice, WHO Representative Dr. Ahmed Jamshid Mohamed, Bangladesh Red Crescent Society Secretary General Md. Habibur Rahman Khan, icddr,b Senior Scientist Dr. Firdausi Qadri and Directorate General of Health Services Additional Director General (Administration) Professor Dr. Md. Zahid Raihan were present at the programme.