First Child Dies With Measles-Like Illness At Rangpur Hospital Amid Negligence Claims
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RANGPUR, Bangladesh – A seven-month-old infant died with measles-like symptoms at Rangpur Medical College Hospital (RMCH) last Friday, marking the first such fatality at the facility in the past month amidst a surge in cases across the region.
Seven-month-old Tanzeed, son of Riazul Islam from Anandabazar in Lalmonirhat Sadar Upazila, succumbed in the hospital’s pediatric ward. His mother, Tithi Moni, accused nurses and ward boys of uncooperative behavior during his treatment, including issues with oxygen supply.
Tanzeed’s health struggles began after Eid, when he was admitted to Lalmonirhat Sadar Hospital for suspected pneumonia. Tithi Moni reported multiple admissions and discharges at the local facility. Dr. Ayesha Sultana, head of RMCH’s pediatric department, confirmed the child had been hospitalized in Lalmonirhat for nearly two weeks before developing a rash and being transferred to RMCH on April 15, noting his condition was critical from the outset.
On Pohela Boishakh, with no pediatric doctor available in Lalmonirhat, the severely ill infant was put on oxygen and eventually brought to Rangpur. After a brief admission to a private Community Medical hospital, where he was reportedly diagnosed with measles, Tanzeed was referred to RMCH. Tithi Moni stated that her son was initially placed in the measles corner at RMCH, but later moved to a general pediatric ward after a doctor ruled out measles.
Responding to the mother’s grave allegations, Dr. Sultana confirmed she had been made aware of the concerns regarding staff conduct. She stated that she had discussed the matter with the hospital director on Saturday morning, who subsequently instructed the nurse in-charge and ward master to revise staff rosters.
The infant’s death comes as RMCH manages a significant caseload of children with measles-like symptoms. As of Saturday morning, 22 children were admitted to the hospital’s specialized measles corner. In the preceding 24 hours, seven new patients were admitted with similar symptoms, while four children were discharged.
These patients hail from various districts, with nine from Rangpur, four each from Kurigram and Nilphamari, and one each from Lalmonirhat, Thakurgaon, Dinajpur, Panchagarh, and Gaibandha. The majority, 16 children, are between five and ten months old, while six others range from 18 months to three and a half years.
RMCH began admitting its first patient with measles-like symptoms on March 23, amidst a nationwide outbreak. To address the growing numbers, a 10-bed measles corner was established adjacent to the pediatric ward on March 29. Due to continued demand, the hospital has since added a second measles corner. So far, 77 children displaying measles-like symptoms have received treatment at the facility.
Source: Prothom Alo Bangla
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