Nearly nine in 10 families affected by measles in Bangladesh have had to borrow money to meet treatment-related expenses, while six in 10 exhausted their savings, according to a joint assessment by the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
The assessment found that 89 per cent of measles-affected families borrowed money to pay for treatment, while 61 per cent depleted their savings. Every family surveyed reported needing financial support.
Among the respondents, 35 per cent identified medicines as their highest priority, followed by water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) support at 33 per cent and food assistance at 22 per cent. Around 4 per cent of the families said they had sold assets to cope with treatment costs, while 3 per cent relied on donations.
The assessment covered 2,746 measles-affected families receiving treatment at 12 government medical colleges and district hospitals across the country. It found that the financial impact of the recent measles surge extended well beyond medical care.
According to the findings, 75 per cent of the patients were aged four years or below, while 19 per cent were between five and 17 years old and 6 per cent were aged over 18 years.
The assessment was conducted to identify the 2,400 most vulnerable households for emergency cash assistance of Tk 10,000 per family and to evaluate the socio-economic impact of the measles outbreak. Out of the 2,746 households assessed against agreed vulnerability criteria, 2,400 were selected to receive the assistance.
The report showed that affected families spent an average of Tk 16,000 on treatment and related expenses. Many caregivers also reported losing income or even their jobs after remaining in hospitals for extended periods to care for sick children or other family members.
Hazera Khatun, who travelled to Dhaka from Rangpur with her 11-month-old daughter for treatment at Shahid Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, said her family had already spent more than Tk 70,000.
"Treatment at the government hospital is free, but many other costs are not covered," she said. "We spent nearly Tk 20,000 just to reach Dhaka by ambulance. Every day we buy food, pay for medical tests and cover other daily expenses. I have already borrowed money from relatives. My husband is working in Saudi Arabia, but he has not received his salary this month, making it even harder for us."
Among families that reported their occupation, 78 per cent relied on informal employment, with monthly incomes ranging from Tk 6,000 to Tk 20,000, leaving them particularly vulnerable to income losses during prolonged illness.
BDRCS Secretary General Dr Kabir M Ashraf Alam said the assessment showed that many families were facing not only a health emergency but also severe financial hardship.
"Through our emergency response, we are supporting the most vulnerable families with cash assistance while continuing community awareness activities," he said.
Alberto Bocanegra, Head of Delegation of IFRC in Bangladesh, said the impact of the measles emergency extended beyond healthcare.
"The effects of this measles health emergency do not end at the hospital door, as families often face difficult financial limitations while caring for sick children or other family members," he said.
"These findings demonstrate why humanitarian assistance and strong social protection systems are both essential during public health emergencies. It is essential for us to base our actions on evidence."
With support from the IFRC and its partners, the BDRCS assisted the government in implementing a nationwide measles vaccination campaign. The organisation also mobilised more than 1,000 Red Crescent volunteers to conduct community awareness activities, support vaccination centres, and carry out risk communication and social mobilisation efforts to encourage vaccination and early healthcare-seeking.
