Measles child deaths: 'The blame is mine,' says health minister as vaccine probe commission formed
Health Minister Sardar Sakhawat Hossain has taken personal responsibility for the unprecedented number of child deaths from measles in the country. Speaking in reply to a journalist's question in the capital yesterday, Monday, the minister expressed regret and said that as health minister, this was his own failure.
The minister spoke about measles child deaths in reply to a journalist's question at the inauguration of a newly built four-storey steel-structure building at the Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute in the capital yesterday. He said, "The blame for the measles deaths is mine; I am responsible. Hang me, I am the health minister, I could not do it. Beyond this I will not blame anyone. This is my failure. But I am trying. It is not my government's failure."
The health minister said, "Almost none of those now falling ill with measles had been vaccinated. A large portion of them are under six months old." He said he had been told that almost none of the measles patients admitted to one hospital had any history of vaccination.
The minister said, "Because of parents' negligence and children's fear of injections, many do not bring their children to vaccination centres. But nothing can be done outside the protocol. Measures are being taken in consultation with the World Health Organization."
According to UNICEF and many local experts, the unprecedented child deaths from measles this time occurred because the vaccination programme was disrupted during the interim government of Dr Muhammad Yunus. Although the current government has taken up an emergency vaccination programme, the infection and death rates have not fallen as expected for various reasons.
The government has recently formed a three-member commission to investigate allegations of irregularities in the purchase and distribution of measles vaccines and administrative failure during the interim government.
Earlier the same day, the health minister inaugurated the ICU, post-operative unit, e-registration, QR code system and outpatient department of the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR). At the time, he announced an allocation of 50 crore taka for the institution's development.
The Shishu Hospital event was chaired by Professor A K M Azizul Haque, president of the hospital's management council.
Amid this measles child-death crisis, the health minister's acceptance of responsibility and the formation of a commission to investigate vaccine irregularities are now at the centre of discussion. The minister said measures are being taken in consultation with the World Health Organization.
