Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) is stepping up its efforts to ensure every child receives life-saving vaccines as part of its commitment to immunisation equity and child health protection. Highlighting the importance of immunisation, Chief Health Officer Dr. Fazle Shamsul Kabir emphasised that DSCC is prioritising child immunisation programs while strengthening its overall vaccination initiatives.

“Vaccination programs in Bangladesh are a role model for the world,” Dr. Kabir remarked during an event at Nagar Bhaban to release the findings of a study titled ‘Challenges of Expanded Immunization Programme in DSCC and Ways to Overcome.’ He further stated, “DSCC is working on how to further strengthen the immunisation process, and for this, the capacity of DSCC in vaccination will be increased.”

Child immunisation remains at the core of DSCC’s health priorities. Programs such as the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) are credited with safeguarding millions of children from vaccine-preventable diseases like tuberculosis, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, and measles through vaccines such as BCG, DPT, and Pentavalent. To leave no child behind, DSCC is also improving the monitoring of its evening immunisation campaigns, ensuring accessibility for working families and those in underserved areas.

Dr. Kabir highlighted DSCC’s focus on child protection through immunisation and stressed the importance of robust operational measures. “Better monitoring and improved strategies will ensure that every child in Dhaka South City is protected against preventable diseases,” he said.

Representatives from key stakeholders echoed this optimism. Dr. Riad Mahmood, Health Manager of UNICEF Bangladesh, described immunisation as a “life-saving investment,” stating that every year, around 50 lakh people in Bangladesh are protected from diseases due to EPI vaccines. He noted that this success aligns with Bangladesh’s leadership in ensuring equitable healthcare access.

Dr. SM Abdullah-Al-Murad, Director of the EPI and MNC&AH, spoke about the potential of achieving universal immunisation goals through collective efforts. “Every human being has a lot of potential, and if it is properly utilised, the desired goal of the immunisation program will surely be achieved,” he said, inspiring confidence in ongoing and future initiatives.

The event, which brought together health officials, researchers, and development partners, highlighted the vital role of collaboration in overcoming challenges and accelerating progress. With research pointing to the need for strengthening manpower and increasing capacity, stakeholders agreed on the importance of evidence-based strategies and innovative solutions to achieve 100% child immunisation coverage.

The mission to reach zero-dose (ZD) and under-immunised (UI) children aligns closely with the objectives of the Country Learning Hub (CLH) for Immunisation Equity in Bangladesh. By generating evidence and improving the mechanisms for identifying and reaching these children, efforts like those by DSCC ensure that immunisation equity remains central to public health interventions.

Bangladesh’s vaccination program has long been celebrated as a global success story, and the renewed focus on child immunisation by DSCC reaffirms its commitment to protecting the nation’s youngest citizens. With strengthened efforts, improved monitoring, and collaboration across sectors, Bangladesh is well on its way to ensuring that no child is left behind in the journey toward a healthier future. 

Resource: 

DSCC working to strengthen immunization activities [Internet]. BSS. [cited 2025 Jan 6]. Available from: https://www.bssnews.net/news/221181