Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain on Saturday announced the cancellation of Eid holidays for doctors and nurses involved in measles treatment and emergency healthcare services as the government intensifies efforts to control the ongoing outbreak across the country.
The minister made the announcement while speaking to reporters after attending an event at the Secretariat in Dhaka.
According to the minister, healthcare professionals working in measles management, emergency response units and other critical medical services will remain on duty throughout the Eid-ul-Azha holiday period to ensure uninterrupted treatment and healthcare support for patients.
The decision comes at a time when Bangladesh continues to witness a significant rise in measles infections and related deaths, prompting authorities to strengthen hospital preparedness and vaccination campaigns nationwide. A total of 13 children died in the last 24 hours until 8am on Saturday, marking the second highest single-day death toll since the outbreak began in March
Officials said the government wants to avoid any disruption in emergency medical services during the festive season, particularly as hospitals continue to receive large numbers of children suffering from measles and related complications.
The minister also indicated that health authorities have been instructed to maintain full operational capacity during the Eid holidays, including vaccination activities, emergency care and patient monitoring services.
The government has recently stepped-up nationwide awareness campaigns and immunisation efforts to contain the spread of the highly contagious disease. Health experts have repeatedly urged parents to vaccinate children and seek immediate treatment if symptoms appear.
Authorities believe keeping frontline healthcare workers active during the holiday period will help maintain rapid response capabilities and reduce the risk of further deterioration in the public health situation.
