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10 JAN 2023
Today, icddr,b with support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance organised an inception meeting titled “Country Learning Hub for Immunisation Equity in Bangladesh.”
The initiative aims to generate and synthesise learning on the barriers to reaching children and support in programme planning; identify and reach Zero Dose (ZD) Children, children who missed the first dose of the pentavalent vaccine, and missed communities; strengthen the evidence-based effective approaches to identify and reach ZD children and missed communities by understanding what works, should be scaled up, and what does not work; improve metrics, measures, and methods to assess and use data on a regular reaching ZD children and missed communities.
Dr Md. Anwar Hossain Howlader, Secretary, Health Services Division, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MohFW) graced the meeting as Chief Guest while Dr Tahmeed Ahmed, Executive Director at icddr,b chaired it.
"While Bangladesh has outperformed many countries, including neighbors, in vaccine coverage, there are still many individuals who remain unvaccinated, and the Country Learning Hub for Immunization Equity will strive to find out why and how to reach them," Dr Tahmeed Ahmed stated in his welcome address. This understanding will benefit not only Bangladesh but also other developing countries across the world."
Dr Howlader in his address expressed his concern about the Zero Dose children and under-vaccinated children. He said, “It is unfortunate that there are still children misses the vaccine doses against diseases which are preventable.” He also commended Gavi and icddr,b for the initiative and ushered the Government support will be extended for the initiative.  Â
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Dr Md. Jasim Uddin, Emeritus Scientist at icddr,b presented the overview of the initiative and Dr Heidi Reynolds, Senior Specialist, Evaluation and Learning, Gavi presented “Gavi 5.0 Strategy: Leaving no-one behind with immunization” by reaching zero-dose and missed communities during the inception meeting held at Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Among others, Mr Syed Mojibul Huq, Additional Secretary, HSD, MoHFW; Dr Muhammad Shariful Islam, Line Director (Acting), MNC&AH, DGHS; Dr S.M. Manzoor Ahmed Hanifi, Acting Senior Director, and Dr Mahbub-E-Elahi Khan Chowdhury, Scientist of Health System Population Studies Division (HSPSD) at icddr,b also spoke on the occasion.
The initiative is also supported by Jhpiego and RedOrange Media and Communications.
Representatives from the MoHFW, Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), World Health Organisation, development partners, INGOs, members of the National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups (NITAGs) and icddr,b also attended the inception meeting.
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