Bangladesh Faces Measles Crisis: Minister Predicts Two to Three Months for Control

Dhaka, August 19: Bangladesh is grappling with a severe measles outbreak, having reported 922 child fatalities this year alone. The situation is worsening, and relief appears distant. According to the country’s health minister, it may take two to three months to improve conditions. He attributed the current crisis to the failures of previous administrations.

Health and Family Welfare State Minister M.A. Muhit stated, “It will take at least two to three months for Bangladesh to bring measles under control and improve the situation.”

A meeting was held at the auditorium of the Bangladesh Children’s Hospital and Institute to discuss research on measles. As the chief guest, Muhit emphasized the need for urgent action to reduce mortality rates and ensure better management.

He remarked, “It is unrealistic to expect a long-standing issue to be resolved overnight or within a week. Approximately 80% of the population relies on the public healthcare system, which has faced numerous challenges due to years of mismanagement, corruption, and negligence.”

Muhit also highlighted the extensive network of private hospitals and diagnostic centers in Bangladesh, where concerns about quality control and profit motives persist.

Discussing future government plans for child healthcare, the state minister assured that the current administration prioritizes children’s health. He announced that the government will soon recruit 5,000 new doctors, 1,000 nurses, and 100,000 field-level workers to address the shortage of healthcare professionals.

Research presented at the meeting revealed that 43% of children hospitalized due to measles were between three to nine months old. The study also found that 38% of these children did not receive exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life. Alarmingly, among the deceased children, this figure rose to 82%, indicating that a significant portion of those who succumbed to measles were deprived of breastfeeding in their early months.

As of Wednesday morning, four more children with measles-like symptoms died within the last 24 hours, bringing the total death toll from confirmed measles and related symptoms in the country to 922 this year.

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