This week, Rohingya refugee children on Bhasan Char in Bangladesh are receiving vaccinations through a routine childhood immunisation programme.

UNICEF provides technical and financial assistance to the Government of Bangladesh in support of childhood immunisations on Bhasan Char.

While Rohingya refugee children have received some vaccinations since arriving on the island through two ad hoc campaigns, this week marks the inauguration of the first regular childhood immunisation programme on Bhasan Char.

“We have no time to waste,” said George Laryea-Adjei, UNICEF Regional Director for South Asia. “Lost ground means lost lives. Rohingya refugee children on Bhasan Char need their childhood immunisations or the consequences can be deadly.”

The UNICEF Regional Director joined Government health workers delivering child vaccinations during his visit to Bhasan Char on 20-21 April.

Dr Md. Shamsul Haque, Line Director for Maternal Neonatal Child and Adolescent Health, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, said: “The routine childhood vaccination programme on Bhasan Char follows the Bangladesh Government’s national Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI). This includes vaccinations against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, hepatitis-B, Hib, polio, pneumonia, tuberculosis, measles and rubella.”

Rohingya refugee families began to be relocated from the refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar to the island of Bhasan Char just over a year ago. Estimations are that there are now well over 10,000 children on the island. UNICEF, UNHCR, WHO and other partners are working together to support the Government to deliver health and other services on Bhasan Char.

“No matter how challenging or remote the setting, we must do everything possible to reach the most at-risk and marginalised boys and girls, regardless of who they are or where they are,” said the UNICEF Regional Director.

Vaccines remain one of the greatest advances in public health, giving children a fair chance to survive, thrive, walk, play and learn. The immunisation programme comes just ahead of the worldwide commemoration of World Immunisation Week – celebrated every year in the last week of April, which will aim to draw the world’s attention to the millions of children still missing out on life-saving vaccines.