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Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum has said various forms of misinformation are being spread regarding the HPV vaccine administered for cervical cancer prevention.
“There is always some misinformation. When we were working on family planning and diarrhoea, there was misinformation then as well. The power to counter misinformation lies in raising awareness among people,” the adviser said while speaking to journalists in Chittagong on Sunday after a national review meeting on the government’s HPV vaccination campaign.
“We have held meetings with representatives from the World Health Organization, city corporations, Islamic Foundation, Qawmi madrasas, health ministry and health directorate, primary and secondary education officials, and teachers so that we can carry out the HPV vaccination campaign smoothly with everyone’s participation.”
The health adviser said there had been significant progress in the HPV vaccination campaign, adding that 2.5 million doses had been administered already. “We hope to achieve a 90% vaccination rate with everyone’s support.”
On the issue of dengue, the adviser said the government had provided special training on dengue to doctors and nurses in every hospital and clinic in the country.
Nurjahan mentioned that focal officers had been appointed for dengue in each hospital, adding that separate units had been set up.
“If you compare this year to last year, the number of dengue cases and deaths has decreased significantly. However, we are not stopping; we continue to strive to further reduce dengue infections and deaths. This is not something the government can do alone.”
She further added that if students and the public joined in preventing dengue by keeping their surrounding areas free of trash, standing water and mosquito breeding grounds, “we can play an effective role in dengue prevention.”
“Public cooperation and participation are essential. If everyone contributes from their positions, dengue, like diarrhoea and cholera, will also decrease over time.”
