First Round of the 18th National Immunization Day (NID) completed

In an effort to sustain its polio-free status, Bangladesh observed the 1st round of the 18th National Immunization Day (NID) on 10th January 2010 across the country through administering two drops of the polio vaccine to more than 22 million children under the age of five. All children aged 12-59 months were given one vitamin A capsule and children aged between 24 and 59 months were given one de-worming tablet during the NID.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina launched the 18th NID in the morning at her official residence Jamuna on 9th January 2010 by providing two drops of polio vaccine to the children. Among others Health Minister of Bangladesh, Prof. Dr AFM Ruhal Haque, Adviser to Prime Minister Prof Syed Modasser Ali, State Minister for MOHFW Capt. (Retd) Mozibur Rahman Fakir, Director General of DGHS Prof Shah Monir Hossain and Health Secretary Sheikh Altaf Ali, WHO Representative to Bangladesh Dr Duangvadee Sungkhobol and UNICEF Bangladesh Representative Carel de Rooy attended the function. Later, Health Minister AFM Ruhal Haque spoke at a press briefing at the auditorium of Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) at Mohakhali in the city.

On the day, field workers from both units of the Ministry of Health, Bangladesh,  the Health Wing (DGHS) and Family Planning unit (DGFP), active support from six lakh volunteers worked all day long  at the community level to make the programme successful.

On 10th January 2010, the WHO Representative to Bangladesh Dr Duangvadee visited 9 NID vaccination sites in Rajshahi area. She also attended the NID inaugural ceremony held in that city, organized by the Rajshahi City Corporation with City Mayor A H M Khairuzzaman, as the Chief Guest.   

The Government of Bangladesh (GOB) with support of UNICEF, WHO, Rotary International and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, Atlanta), mounted a model response to immunize all under-5 children across the country when the first case of polio was detected in March 2006. Prior to this case, the country had been polio-free for five years. Eighteen polio cases were thereafter detected in 12 districts across all divisions of Bangladesh with the last one reported on 22 November, 2006. Since 1995, Bangladesh started NIDs to eradicate Polio. This was in addition to its nation-wide normal immunization programme.   

Since the detection of the poliovirus in March, 2006 there have been six rounds of polio NIDs in 2006 and four rounds in 2007 ; at each of these Rounds,  between 95 per cent and 98.2 per cent of under-five children in the country were reached. During the 17th NID in November 2008, the polio and vitamin A coverage was 97.6 per cent and 96.4 per cent respectively.

This tremendous achievement of administering OPV and Vitamin A was the result of the combined efforts of the Ministry of Health, many development partners, WHO, and NGOs, coordinated by the Government of Bangladesh.