Children's Death from Measles
Health Minister Says: "The responsibility is mine, hang me"
The Health Minister speaks at inaugural ceremony of a new building at the capital's Children's Hospital on Monday afternoon.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain has acknowledged his own responsibility for the child deaths from measles in the country. However, he is unwilling to see the matter as a failure of the government.
He said these things today, Monday, at noon in response to journalists' questions at the inauguration ceremony of a newly constructed four-story steel structure building at the Child Hospital and Institute in the capital.
At the end of the ceremony, a journalist asked the Minister who bears the responsibility for the deaths of nearly 1,200 children from measles in the past seven months—the interim government or the current government. The journalist also commented that someone or the other must take responsibility for this incident.
In response, the Health Minister said, "The responsibility is mine. Hang me. This is my failure. However, I have tried. It is not my government's failure."
In response to questions raised about measles vaccines, the Minister said, "The propaganda that a large portion of the vaccines used in the country has been brought from India is not correct. Only 8 percent of vaccines have been imported from India. The rest of the vaccines have been collected from Germany, Japan, Australia, the United Kingdom, South Korea, and Indonesia. These vaccines have been brought at low prices."
He said the vaccines used in the country have been tested by the World Health Organization and supplied through UNICEF. UNICEF, Gavi, and the World Health Organization are recognized institutions for vaccine supply worldwide. He said that if vaccines had been taken from any other private institution instead of these organizations, the situation could have been even more dire.
The Health Minister also cited children not receiving vaccines as one of the main reasons for being affected by measles. In his words, "Currently, almost none of the affected children have received vaccines. A large portion of the affected are under six months of age."
At the ceremony, the Health Minister claimed that the standard of healthcare in the country has improved. He said, "Through the efforts of physicians, positive changes have come in the health sector. It has been possible to ensure the presence of physicians in most upazila health complexes. The government is also working to improve the quality of hospital food, cleanliness, and the health-friendly environment."
Regarding hospital drainage and waste management, Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain said, "A separate project worth several thousand crore taka has been undertaken for the permanent solution to these problems. Initiatives are also underway to manage medical and general waste separately."
The ceremony was presided over by Professor Dr. A K M Azizul Haque, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bangladesh Child Hospital and Institute. Earlier, the Health Minister inaugurated the ICU, Post-Operative Department, E-Registration, QR Code, and Outpatient Department of the National Orthopedic Hospital and Rehabilitation Institute (NITOR). He also announced an allocation of Tk 50 crore for the development of the institution.The ceremony, presided over by Professor Dr. Md. Abul Kenan, Director of NITOR, was attended by Professor Dr. Harun Al Rashid, President of the Doctors' Association of Bangladesh (DAB), and Dr. Md. Zahirul Islam Shakil, General Secretary, along with other individuals concerned.
