Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain has said the government will take strict legal action against Ad-din Hospital after receiving the investigation report on the deaths of children in its children’s ward.
He made the remarks while speaking to reporters after offering Eid prayers at 8:00am at the main Eidgah on the grounds of Monohardi Government Model Pilot High School in Monohardi upazila. He described the incident as deeply painful.
The minister said preliminary information suggests that an air conditioner in the children’s ward was switched off at the request of a mother. He added that the tragic incident may have occurred later due to a possible gas leak.
“I received the heartbreaking news while visiting another hospital. Immediate steps were taken and an investigation committee was formed right away,” he said.
He said the committee has been instructed to submit its report within 72 hours.
“After receiving the investigation report, all legal action will be taken against the hospital,” he added.
Referring to the measles situation in the country, Sakhawat Hossain said the government has already taken necessary steps to protect patients and contain the outbreak.
He said that had the government failed to control measles, thousands of children could have died. He added that sufficient vaccines are available and every child will be brought under vaccination coverage.
The minister also said both measles infections and deaths have already declined significantly.
“If healthy children can be kept away from infected patients, we hope the number of measles cases will fall completely after Eid,” he added.
Leaders and activists of BNP and its associate organisations were present on the occasion.
