Immunisation campaign begins next month

Rahima Akhtar, a nine-year-old girl from Chandpur, was paralysed on January 23. On March 8, laboratory tests in the Indian State of Mumbai confirmed that Rahima has been attacked with the wild poliovirus, a Unicef official said.

WHO South-East Asia Regional office expert Dr Arun Thapa said the virus found here has similarity with that of Uttar Pradesh in India.

Bangladesh has been polio-free since August 2000 following extensive vaccination against the disease, said Kirsty Mcivor, Chief Communication Officer of Unicef.

She said all Bangladeshi children under five would be brought under the vaccination campaign from next month by the government with the help of WHO and Unicef.

After the report of the first polio case, an immediate investigation was conducted in the area and the government is currently devising its response plan with support from partners, including the WHO.

Unicef communication officer Shamsuddin Ahmed said the OPV would be given to the children on April 16, May 13 and June 11. The government will provide the fund, Unicef will procure polio vaccine and launch campaign while WHO will provide technical and management assistance.

Some 50,000 vaccinators and 750,000 volunteers will be engaged in the implementation of the OPV campaign.