DHAKA, April 21, 2025 (BSS) - The Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) saves the lives of 94,000 children and protects five million children from various preventable diseases across the country each year.

Dr. Nijam Uddin Ahmed, Executive Director of Sastho Surokkha Foundation, revealed the information at a press conference held at the National Press Club's Tofazzal Hossain Manik Miah auditorium today.

The event, jointly organized by the Sastho Surokkha Foundation and UNICEF Bangladesh, was arranged as part of the preparations for the upcoming World Immunization Week to be held from April 24 to April 30.

"Since the inception of the EPI project, the child mortality rate in Bangladesh has decreased by 81.5 percent. Before the launch of EPI, 151 out of every 1,000 children died before the age of five. This figure has now dropped to 21 per 1,000, establishing Bangladesh as a global role model in successful vaccination," said Dr. Ahmed.

He urged the government to take further steps to strengthen the immunization programme, including increasing budget allocations, recruiting adequate manpower, and adopting area-based strategies, especially for hard-to-reach regions.

Among others, EPI Programme Manager Dr. Abul Fozol, Mohammad Sahabuddin Khan of UNICEF Bangladesh, and Professor Dr. Md. Rafiqul Islam, Policy Adviser for the Sastho Surokkha Foundation's research project, were present at the event.