RANGPUR, Mar 19 (BSS): Health experts at a divisional advocacy workshop have stressed the need for introducing Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) and Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) to save the babies from many deadly diseases.
Office of the Divisional Director (Health) organised the workshop at the Civil Surgeon office Wednesday on 'Introduction of the PCV and IPV vaccine in routine EPI (extended programme of immunisation) for under one-year babies in Rangpur division.
The Directorate General of Health Services under the Ministry of Health & Family Planning Welfare, World Health Organisation (WHO) and Civil Surgeon Office of Rangpur extended cooperation in arranging the day-long advocacy workshop.
Divisional Director (Health) Dr Sukumar Roy presided over the workshop participated by Civil Surgeons, Deputy Directors of the Department of Family Planning, Upazila Health & Family Planning officers from all over Rangpur division.
Besides, leaders of Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA), health officials, NGO representatives, physicians of different hospitals and health complexes, journalists, civil society members, professionals and local elite took part in the workshop.
Civil Surgeon of Rangpur Dr Mozammel Hossain, Divisional Deputy Director of the Department of Family Planning Dr Shafikul Haque, President of district unit of BMA Dr Delwar Hossain and Secretary of Rangpur City Corporation Fazlul Kabir addressed.
Divisional Coordinator of WHO Dr Kamruzzaman delivered the keynote presentation in the workshop moderated by Medical Officer of the Civil Surgeon's Office Dr Ruhul Amin.
The health experts informed the workshop that each of the under one-year age group baby will have to be taken to the immunisation centres six times to take all these vaccines a total of six times.
The targeted group babies will be immunised six times with these vaccines at their ages from 6 weeks to 18 weeks to save them from tuberculosis, diphtheria, hooping cough, tetanus, homophiles influenza B, poliomyelitis, pneumococcal pneumonia, measles and rubella diseases.
The speakers narrated the necessity of immunising the under one-year age group babies with PCV and IPV vaccines for preventing pneumococcal pneumonia as well as a number of deadly diseases to further reduce the rate of child morality in the country.
Divisional Director (Health) Dr Sukumar Roy urged the officials, physicians, health service providers of the government departments and NGOs to make the new immunisation programme successful to save the babies from the deadly diseases.
