Covid-19 outbreak disrupts EPI programme
Within a year of birth, children are vaccinated for various diseases as a preventive measure. But Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) is being disrupted here this time due to coronavirus outbreak. Children and pregnant women are not going to the EPI centres to avoid Covid-19 transmission.
On the other hand, the health providers are working at some EPI centres in the rented houses amid risk of getting infected by Covid-19 as there is not sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE) for them.
According to Moulvibazar district civil surgeon office sources, five vaccinations are given to children for diphtheria and other preventive diseases like polio, whooping cough, hepatitis B and tuberculosis within a year of birth under EPI programme. There is a target to vaccinate 47,073 children here in the current year. Meanwhile, 1, 09,376 women aged from 15 years to 49 years will get vaccine under the programme during the time.
On a visit to different areas in Juri upazila, this correspondent found the health assistants at the EPI centres sitting idle as none came there for vaccination.
Shima Rani Das, a health assistant at Krisnanagar EPI centre in Harirampur area under the upazila, said only two children out of 10 came to the centre for immunisation in the last few days. People were not coming here due to fear of coronavirus spread.
Another health assistant Tapash Chandra Das of Bachirpur EPI centre in the same upazila said only one child out of 38 came to the centre till now. The parents of the children are not interested to come here due to coronavirus fears.
Wishing anonymity, a health assistant said "Some children and pregnant women were coming here with fever, cold and coughs but we don't have PPE. And if the situation goes on this way, we can be infected with Covid-19 anytime."
Sadek Hosain, a resident of Magura area in Kulaura municipality, said people are not interested to get vaccine in the EPI centre as there is not sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE) for the health assistants.
Md Abdul Mukit, health inspector of Juri Upazila Health Complex, said EPI programme is being badly disrupted here due to fear of coronavirus spread.
He further said the health assistants are working amid risk due to shortage of PPE. They have already informed the higher authorities about the matter.
Dr Nurul Haque, upazila health officer of Kulaura Upazila Health Complex, said they have got five sets of PPE till now. The PPE can be used for one time.
Civil Surgeon Dr Tauhid Ahmed said they are yet to get PPE as per their requirement due to shortage of its supply.
They have already informed the authorities concerned about the matter, he said.
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