5 critical measles affected children flown to CMCH

Five seriously ill measles affected children of Tripura community were yesterday flown to Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH) from remote Lungtian Para under Sajek union of Rangamati by helicopter.

"Our medical team went to the measles affected area yesterday. Finding five of the affected children in serious conditions, we decided to bring them to CMCH by aircraft," said Brigadier General Md Faizur Rahman of Khagrachhari Brigade.

"Our team is also giving proper treatment to the other measles affected children of the remote area," he said.

"Earlier a 16-member medical team of Bangladesh Army along with two of our MBBS doctors went to the affected spot on Tuesday evening," said Dr Istekhar Ahmed, upazila health and family planning officer of Baghaichhari.

"A total of seven children died of measles in remote Arun Para and Lungthian Para since February 26 while around 130 children were affected," he said, adding that the affected children are badly suffering from malnutrition. 

Hiranondo Tripura, a ward member of the area who visited the spot said the affected children didn't get proper treatment before arrival of the medical team. 

Several karbaris (village chiefs) of the affected areas alleged that doctors or community health service providers never visit there, showing the excuse of difficulty in reaching the remote place.

A health assistant, who was on the spot for weeks before the medical team arrived yesterday, said, "Following order from the high authorities, I was giving medical service although I am not a doctor. Doctors gave me medical advice over phone, which was not enough to deal with the measles affected children."

Meanwhile, people in Bandarban claimed that a child died of measles and around 40 others, including 33 children, were infected with the virus in a remote area of the hill district.

Health officials, however, said the child died of an unknown disease.

The campaign to vaccinate 34 million children, aged between 9 months and 10 years, against measles and rubella was scheduled to begin on March 18. But the programme was postponed over the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus.