‘Take steps in measles-hit areas of CHT now’
Authorities must look into the measles outbreak in Chattogram Hill Tracts and take steps to contain it, two organisations said yesterday.
A joint statement by Kapaeeng Foundation and Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Forum expressed concern over the outbreak in Rangamati's Baghaichari upazila and Bandarban's Lama upazila, where at least eight children have died and around 300 were infected by measles in the last one month, the statement said, claiming that measles cases were also reported in Ruma upazila of Bandarban.
It said while public-private initiatives in the fight against coronavirus is in everyone's focus, authorities must take note of this measles outbreak.
"We think that such an outbreak would not have occurred if the government had reached peoples' home with immunisation programmes and healthcare," the statement read. It put forward four points to contain the outbreak: uninterrupted and adequate medicare in the affected areas by forming a medical board; emergency humanitarian assistance in measles-infected areas; free care to affected patients; and proper investigation of the incident and adequate compensation to affected families.
The statement alleged that no vaccination was provided to children in the affected areas. Some patients' conditions were so critical that they were flown to Chattogram by helicopter by Bangladesh Army.
Contacted, Sanjeeb Drong, general secretary of Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Forum said, "We really appreciate Bangladesh Army for taking critically affected children to Chattogram."
Meanwhile, 10-year-old Dhonika Tripura died in Dighinala of Khagrachhari on Saturday of measles, said upazila health officer Dr Tonoy Talukder, adding that they found 20 more children infected in the area.
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