Treat underprivileged children for free: HC

The High Court yesterday directed the government, public and private medical college and hospitals to provide treatment to underprivileged, insolvent and street children infected with dengue fever free of cost. 

The court asked the director general of the Directorate General of Health Services to take necessary steps to this effect, and to submit a report before it after complying with the directive by August 20.

The bench of Justice Sheikh Hassan Arif and Justice Razik-Al-Jalil came up with the order following a writ petition filed by Jyotirmoy Barua, a Supreme Court lawyer, seeking necessary order to this end.

While hearing the petition, the bench observed that authorities concerned should take steps so that no street child or insolvent person infected with dengue is deprived of treatment due to financial crisis.

Barua submitted the petition as a public interest litigation to the HC yesterday, following newspaper reports published on July 31 saying Shaheed Suhrawardy Hospital authorities recently refused to admit a street child with dengue fever, and the child was left unconscious in front of the hospital.

Dr Kazi Zahed Iqbal, Aneek R Haque and few other lawyers appeared for the petitioner, while Deputy Attorney General Bipul Bagmar represented the state.

Nahid Hasan, 7, who used to live at Gabtoli Bus Terminal, had been suffering from high fever for last two days there.

Two street children and an official of non-government organisation Pathway brought Nahid to Suhrawardy Hospital on Tuesday for treatment.  

Hospital authorities gave him primary treatment and tested his blood. The authorities also said Nahid’s blood test report would be given on Wednesday.

Talking to The Daily Star, Nahid yesterday alleged although he was diagnosed with dengue virus, hospital authorities denied to admit him at the hospital for treatment.

The NGO later admitted Nahid at Al Helal Specialized Hospital at city’s Mirpur-10 on Wednesday.

Nahid said he earns his livelihood through selling scrap metal and plastic items and he has no contact with his parent.

Director of Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital Uttam Kumar Barua told this correspondent that they have formed a five-member investigation committee to probe the incident.