A Life of 241 Days, 99 of Those in Hospitals

Faruk’s life lasted only 241 days. Out of that brief existence, 99 days were spent moving from one hospital to another. It began with diarrhea, but the list of complications grew longer day by day. His father, a CNG-auto driver, sold everything he owned to keep the treatment going. However, Faruk never got enough time to recover—he ultimately lost his battle to measles.

On April 16, while undergoing treatment at the Bangladesh Shishu Hospital & Institute (Dhaka Children's Hospital) in Shyamoli, Faruk passed away after contracting measles.

According to data from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), between March 15 and April 27, 222 children across the country died with symptoms of measles. Among them, 44 were laboratory-confirmed cases.

Little Faruk hailed from Punnamati village at Burichang upazila of Cumilla district. He first contracted pneumonia at home. Seeking better treatment, his parents brought him to the capital’s Shishu Hospital on March 26. Four days after admission, when symptoms of measles appeared, he was transferred to a designated ward for treatment. The final three days of his life were spent in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Seven days after Faruk’s passing, this reporter spoke with his parents over the phone. His father, Md. Mozammel (35), spoke with a choked voice: "Whatever the doctors told me to do to make him better, I did it instantly; I didn't delay. Even then, I couldn't save him."

The younger son had been named to rhyme with his elder brother, Md. Omar (5). To save him, the father sold his only source of income—his CNG—and took out loans. The treatment at Dhaka Shishu Hospital alone cost Tk200,000. The father said he was prepared to sell his ancestral home and land if more money was needed for his son’s recovery.

Overcoming the father’s words, the sound of Faruk’s mother, Pinky Akhter (24), sobbing was clearly audible through the phone. Her lament was the constant race from hospital to hospital. She was exhausted herself, unable to care for her son properly or even spend enough time looking at him.

Faruk spent the final 21 days of his life at the Shishu Hospital. He was brought there on the advice of a local doctor after contracting pneumonia. He was initially showing signs of improvement, but four days into admission, he developed a fever. Suspecting measles, he was moved to a specific ward. When his condition worsened, he was moved to the ICU.

The parents alleged that their son did not receive adequate care in the ICU, which caused his respiratory distress to escalate quickly. Faruk passed away at approximately 4:00 PM. His father recalled, "On the day he died, my boy was laughing, playing, and eating until noon."

Faruk weighed 2.07 kg at birth and remained healthy for the first three months. However, at four months old, his mother "out of whim" began feeding him store-bought cake alongside breast milk. His father had forbidden it, but the mother did not listen. His father lamented, "I told her so many times, don't give him cake, he won't be able to digest it. She didn't listen."

Following this, the child developed diarrhea, vomiting, and a fever. Faruk recovered after receiving 26 days of treatment at Cumilla Medical College and Hospital. His father believes the cake was the source of the diarrhea.

A short while later, the infant was struck by diarrhea again, requiring 12 days of treatment at the local Upazila Health Complex. Faruk couldn't stay home for long after that; an infection was discovered in his knee joint, causing it to swell. Following a local doctor's advice, he was treated at a private hospital in Shyamoli, Dhaka. After one month and ten days of treatment, his condition improved significantly. But there was no peace for the little Faruk. Within a few days, he contracted pneumonia, and his parents once again set out for Dhaka.

His parents firmly believe Faruk contracted measles at the Dhaka Shishu Hospital. They had brought him there to ensure he received the best treatment for pneumonia. Seeking a cure, they instead returned home with Faruk’s body. There have been no reports of measles in their neighborhood. As the father put it, "I haven't heard of anyone around here having measles."

Both parents had received all their EPI vaccinations in childhood and never had measles themselves. Faruk’s mother, Pinky Akhter, who finished eighth grade, said, "I didn't give him any vaccines; I couldn't find the time while running from hospital to hospital." The child hadn't even received Vitamin A, though the doctors at Dhaka Shishu Hospital eventually administered it.

The day before he died, his parents spent Tk 5,280 on various medical tests for their son. There was no time to collect the results; they had to rush home with Faruk’s lifeless body, which cost another Tk 5,500. The father sent the money receipt to this reporter, requesting the reports be collected and a photo of them sent to him.

He said: "I will never set foot in that hospital again—the place where my piece of my heart died."