Special measles vaccination campaign to begin September 25: Health Minister

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain said on Thursday a nationwide special measles vaccination campaign will begin on September 25. 

"From September 25, a large-scale measles vaccination campaign will be launched again across the country," he said.

He made the remarks while speaking at a seminar organised at the University Women's Federation in the capital to mark World Suicide Prevention Day 2026.

The seminar was organised by the Association for Disabled People (ADP) and Rotary Club of Ahsan Manzil Dhaka. 

ADP Chairman Rowshan Ara Zaman chaired the event.

The minister said most of the children who are newly contracting measles in the country have not yet received the measles vaccine.

The minister said the country initially faced some difficulties in containing the measles outbreak as the previous government had left no vaccine stock. 

However, the Health Ministry has already procured more than one crore (10 million) doses of vaccine and conducted a vaccination campaign.

"New vaccines have arrived from UNICEF for children who are still outside the vaccination coverage. Using these vaccines, the large-scale campaign will resume from September 25," he said.

Speaking about the dengue situation, the minister said stagnant water in flowerpots at homes often creates breeding grounds for mosquitoes and increases the risk of dengue transmission.

He said the Health Ministry has already launched extensive measures to combat dengue. 

Awareness activities are being conducted not only in Dhaka but also across the country, including rural and peripheral areas, he stated.

The minister also said the government is working to bring the rate of suicide in the country down to zero.

Earlier in the morning, the health minister participated in a rally organised to mark World Suicide Prevention Day.