Those responsible for measles deaths must be punished

Since the start of the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) in the past few decades, measles infections and deaths in the country had been very low.

People had forgotten that measles can be so deadly. However, this year measles has almost reached epidemic proportions. According to reports of the national newspapers published yesterday, the country bogged its highest single day death toll from measles and measles like symptoms, with 17 child deaths on Monday.

With this, according to the official count, a total of 311 children have so far died of measles and measles symptoms. Experts say, this number is much higher than the official count as many children die at home across the country, especially in rural areas. On the other hand, many die in clinics, which are not included in this count.

Experts also blamed the interim government’s mismanagement for the child deaths due to measles. Because, they said, the interim government had failed to make arrangements for timely procurement of vaccines, ensure timely allocation of funds from the revenue sector for the purchase of vaccines, and to instruct the relevant people to arrange for the procurement of vaccines.

Above all, the unprofessional conduct of the adviser in charge of the Ministry of Health, without giving any importance to the matter, is responsible for this.

An organization called Humanitarian Unity with Morality organized a human chain program in the capital on Sunday afternoon demanding that former interim government, especially its health adviser, be brought to justice. Some parents in the human chain also shared their painful experiences.

Meanwhile, National Professor and Head of the Health Sector Reform Commission of the Interim Government Dr. AK Azad Khan believes that children are dying of measles, and the government, especially the interim government, is responsible for this because they have not given importance to the health protection system for children.

Earlier, the Directorate General of Health Services has ordered all government hospitals to increase beds to cope with the increasing number of measles patients in the country.

At the same time, clear instructions have also been given that no patient will be turned away on the pretext of bed shortage. The directive states that even if there are no vacant beds, additional beds should be arranged if necessary to treat patients.

The tragic deaths of over three hundred children, the cries of their parents, the thousands of children in hospitals-naturally, have shocked the people of the country. We want a thorough investigation into the entire incident and those responsible to be brought to justice and punished.