TUHIN SHUBHRA ADHIKARY

Two crucial national campaigns -- distribution of deworming tablets and Vitamin A Plus capsules -- have remained suspended for over a year, a disruption experts say may have worsened the measles outbreak.

These campaigns aim to improve children’s immunity and nutritional status, and lapses are likely to increase malnutrition and weaken immunity, making measles more severe, they added.

Although both campaigns were scheduled twice a year, the National Deworming Campaign has not been held since May 2024, and the last National Vitamin A Plus campaign took place in March last year, officials said.

They blamed the cancellation of the sectoral programme, under which the campaigns were funded, without renewed funding by the interim government, as well as complications in the tendering process to procure capsules.

The matter comes to light as the country faces a measles outbreak on a scale unprecedented in the past two decades.

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) reported 23 confirmed measles deaths yesterday. With the latest report, the number of suspected measles deaths since March 15 has risen to 143. Besides, over 12,000 suspected cases have been reported nationwide during this time.

Experts link the crisis to disruptions in “If

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