PM receives ‘Vaccine Hero’ award
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has received the prestigious Vaccine Hero award in recognition of Bangladesh’s outstanding success in vaccination to immunise children.
Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) conferred the award upon the PM at a ceremony at a conference room of the UN Headquarters on Monday.
GAVI Board Chair Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala handed over the award to Hasina.
The PM dedicated the award to the people of Bangladesh. “This award is not mine; it is the award of the people of Bangladesh,” Hasina said.
She said Bangladesh’s success in vaccination programme is acknowledged globally now. She expressed optimism that the target of “vaccines for all” in the country would be reached well ahead of 2030.
The PM said the sudden influx of 1.1 million Rohingyas into Cox’s Bazar from Myanmar’s Rakhine was a formidable challenge to Bangladesh’s health sector as they didn’t have access to any proper health services in Myanmar.
“We have taken extraordinary measures to raise immunity of the Rohingyas through vaccination campaign and routine immunisation. We have successfully conducted cholera vaccination, dealt with diphtheria and measles outbreak at the camps.”
The PM mentioned that Bangladesh was honoured with GAVI Alliance Award in 2009 and 2012 for its outstanding performance in improving the child immunisation status.
She said immunisation has been the greatest public health success story in Bangladesh. She thanked the Vaccine Alliance and other partners for their continued support and contributions.
GAVI Chair Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and CEO Seth Berkley also spoke at the programme.
Before handing over the award, a citation was read out by the GAVI chair.
The citation said the Vaccine Hero award has been introduced by the GAVI to recognise global figures whose dedication to the Vaccine Alliance’s Mission has played a key role in helping GAVI and its partners protect hundreds of millions of children across the globe.
“This is an award for those who have set out a clear ambition and displayed urgency in providing lifesaving vaccines to children and ensuring that no child is left out.”
Sheikh Hasina is a true champion of immunisation as well as rights of the children and the women empowerment, the citation reads.
CLIMATE ACTION SUMMIT
Earlier on Monday, Hasina joined the Climate Action Summit at the UN Headquarters. She launched the Risk-informed Early Action Partnership (REAP) to make one billion people around the world safer from disasters by 2025.
She announced that over 50 countries and more than 20 organisations were joining the partnership at its launch.
The REAP is a new initiative created by the United Kingdom, Finland and the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
‘FULFIL CLIMATE PLEDGES’
Speaking at another event at the UN Headquarters, the prime minister yesterday called upon all countries to fulfil their commitments on reduction of carbon emissions and financing the initiatives of the climate vulnerable countries.
The programme was hosted by Global Commission on Adaptation.
Hasina said despite being severely constrained in terms of resources and choices, Bangladesh was doing its best to bring a difference to the life of its people.
“I believe that our commitment of partnership will set a platform for innovating and sharing different adaptation measures addressing climate change.”
The PM said Bangladesh is highly vulnerable to climate change and water-related threats and challenges.
She said the impacts of climate change are increasingly harming the civilisation and it is an existential threat to climate vulnerable countries like Bangladesh.
Referring to the recent fire at Amazon forest and cyclone Dorian in Bahamas, Hasina said these reminded the world how devastating climate change has already become.
The PM expressed happiness at the decision of establishing an office of Global Centre on Adaptation in Dhaka.
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Shahab Uddin and State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam were present, among others.