Health News

Vaccination saves 94,000 childrens lives annually

The Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) saves the lives of 94,000 children and protects five million children from various preventable diseases across the country each year. Dr. Nijam Uddin Ahmed, Executive Director of Sastho Surokkha Foundation, revealed the information at a press conference held at the National Press Clubs Tofazzal Hossain Manik Miah auditorium today. The event, jointly organized by the Sastho Surokkha Foundation and UNICEF Bangladesh, was arranged as part of the preparations for the upcoming World Immunization Week to be held from April 24 to April 30. "Since the inception of the EPI project, the child mortality rate in Bangladesh has decreased by 81.5 percent. Before the launch of EPI, 151 out of every 1,000 children died before the age of five. This figure has now dropped to 21 per 1,000, establishing Bangladesh as a global role model in successful vaccination," said Dr. Ahmed. He urged the government to take further steps to strengthen the immunization programme, including increasing budget allocations, recruiting adequate manpower, and adopting area-based strategies, especially for hard-to-reach regions. Among others, EPI Programme Manager Dr. Abul Fozol, Mohammad Sahabuddin Khan of UNICEF Bangladesh, and Professor Dr. Md. Rafiqul Islam, Policy Adviser for the Sastho Surokkha Foundations research project, were present at the event.

49 dengue patients hospitalized in last 24hrs

Forty-nine dengue patients were admitted to different hospitals across the country in the last 24 hours till this morning. "During the period, 30 patients were hospitalised in Barishal division, 11 in Chattogram, one Rajshahi, two in Dhaka division, one in Dhaka North and four were admitted to different hospitals in Dhaka South," said a press release issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The total number of case rose to 2,276, while 17 deaths from dengue were reported this year. In the last 24 hours, 36 dengue patients have been discharged from different hospitals. This year, 2,123 dengue patients have been discharged from the hospitals so far. Last year, the total number of cases rose to 1,01,214, while 575 deaths from dengue disease were reported, the statement added.

Denmark could eradicate cervical cancer by 2040: study

Denmark aims to eradicate cervical cancer by 2040 thanks to a national HPV vaccination campaign and screening programme, the Danish Cancer Society said on Monday.
"Even before 2040, so few women may have the disease that it may be considered eradicated," the Danish Cancer Society said in a statement.
"It would be the first time a cancer has disappeared," it said.
The current cervical cancer rate in Denmark is lower than 10 out of 100,000 women, according to a study in the Danish medical journal Ugeskrift for Laeger.
According to the World Health Organizations (WHO) criteria, the disease would be considered eradicated when there is an incidence rate lower than four per 100,000 women.
In Denmark, the vaccination rate against human papillomavirus (HPV), the main cause of the disease, is 89 percent for girls and boys aged 12, for the first of two doses.
Thats just shy of the 90 percent goal.
The free vaccine was introduced for girls in 2008-2009 and for boys in 2019.
In addition, 60 percent of women in Denmark accept the offer of free screenings, slightly lower than the 70 percent participation target.
Neighbouring Sweden could however beat Denmark to the post: it aims to eradicate cervical cancer by 2027, according to the Regional Cancer Centres in Sweden.

Beximco Pharma rejects allegations of corruption

Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (Beximco Pharma) is deeply concerned and disappointed by the misleading and defamatory news published on March 17 and 18, 2025 in several news portals, dailies and TV channels. These reports alleged Company involvement in the corruption during the procurement of Covid-19 vaccines. The Company rejects these baseless allegations and protests the sensationalized and slanderous headlines, that not only tarnished corporate reputation as a globally known pharmaceutical manufacturer and exporter but also confused thousands of its valued shareholders, especially many foreign investors who currently hold more than 32% of company shares.
Beximco Pharma was involved with the procurement of 15 million (1.5 crore) doses of Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine (Covishield) from Serum Institute of India (SII), the world largest vaccine producer, costing USD 60 million (BDT 480 crore) and Beximco Pharma received USD 1 (one) per dose totaling USD 15 million (BDT 120 crore) for supplying the same. Thus, the total cost incurred for 15 million Covishield doses stood at BDT 600 crore while several media and news portals clearly attempted to malign Beximco Pharma with headlines saying the company is being investigated for BDT 22,000 crore corruption in connection to Covid-19 vaccine purchase.
The reports claimed that The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has decided to launch an inquiry against a syndicate involving Salman F Rahman, Beximco Pharma and others over alleged embezzlement of BDT 22,000 crore government funds during the Covid-19 vaccine procurement process. It further alleged that the government bypassed competitive bidding and negotiations by pursuing a single source for vaccine procurement.