Rangpur City Corporation (RpCC) has launched a digitised permanent centre for expanded programme on immunization (EPI) aiming at turning the city into Model of Urban Immunization, reports BSS.
Mayor of Rangpur Mostafizar Rahman Mostafa formally inaugurated the EPI centre by cutting ribbon at a function held at City Bhaban auditorium in Rangpur on Thursday afternoon as the chief guest, RpCC and health officials said on Friday.
The Institute of Public Health and Nutrition, Directorate of Health under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare with assistance of the Micronutrient Initiative, UNICEF and World Health Organisation extended assistance in establishing the EPI centre.
The new EPI centre will maintain modern digitised data base of pregnant mothers, newborn babies, mothers and children of the city with dates of immunization and send SMS before the immunization dates to the beneficiaries to come there for immunization.
The EPI centre is the first one of its kind in the country and it would provide immunization services to all registered pregnant mothers, newborn babies, mothers and children of the city with WHO-funding under the government’s a2i programme.
Divisional Director (Health) Dr. Mostafa Khaled Ahmed and Programme Manager of the EPI Programme of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Dr. Mowla Box Chowdhury attended the function as special guests
With RpCC Secretary and Executive Magistrate Rashedul Haque in the chair, WHO Representative Dr. Rajendra Bohra, Health Officer of UNICEF Dr. Nazmun Nahar Bubbly, Civil Surgeon Dr. Abu Md. Zakirul Islam, Chief Health Officer of RpCC Dr Kamruzzaman Ibne Taz and district BMA President Dr. Delwar Hossain spoke. The new EPI centre is the first one of its kind in the country and it would register pregnant mothers, newborn babies, mothers and children of the city to provide immunization services to them with WHO-funding under the a2i programme.
The City mayor urged officials concerned to contribute maximum in creating awareness to bring cent percent of targeted city people under the EPI programme to turn Rangpur city into a Model of Urban Immunization in near future.
“Bangladesh will advance another step forward on way to attain set targets of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) by 2030 by ensuring immunization for all urban and rural pregnant mothers, newborn babies, mothers and children,” he added.
