Child with measles dies due to incorrect treatment by SACMO in Noakhali

Noakhali Correspondent: A complaint has been filed against the Union Assistant Community Medical Officer (SACMO) for the death of a child named Mahia Akhtar (5) who was suffering from measles due to wrong treatment in Sadar Upazila of Noakhali.
The incident took place on Thursday (May 21) afternoon at the pharmacy of Union Assistant Community Medical Officer (SACMO) Md. Siraj Islam of Karmulya Bazar in the upazila.
The deceased Mahia is the daughter of Md. Karim of Bhuiyan Bari in Ward No. 4 of Kaladrap Union in the upazila. The accused Md. Sirajul Islam is working as an Assistant Community Medical Officer (SACMO) at Charkadia Union Health and Family Welfare Center in Kamalnagar Upazila of Lakshmipur.
The deceased's maternal uncle Md. Murad said that when his niece Mahia developed a mild fever last Sunday, her mother Kamrun Nahar took the child to the pharmacy of Assistant Community Medical Officer Siraj Islam of Karmulya Bazar. Later on Tuesday, when a sore appeared on Mahiya's face, Siraj tested her and said that she had measles. At the same time, he assured the family members that he was treating several other children with measles.
Murad alleged that on Thursday morning, Mahiya's mother took the child to the pharmacy again. Siraj was not there at that time. Later, he asked a person from a nearby shop on his mobile phone to push saline on Mahiya's body. After giving the saline, Mahiya's mother left for home with the child. After walking some distance, the child started having seizures. Later, when he was taken to Maijdi's Mao Shishu Hospital, the doctor on duty declared him dead.
He also said that there is no way to treat a sick child with measles. However, he was treated. We did not inform the administration about the matter thinking that if we complained, an autopsy would be conducted.
Md. Sirajul Islam, the accused union deputy assistant community medical officer (SACMO), rejected the complaint and said that we have informed his family that the child has measles. At the same time, we have written to admit him to the hospital. I was not in the chamber when he was brought today. His family members said that the child's condition deteriorated after treatment.
In this regard, Noakhali Civil Surgeon Dr. Anar Hossain said, rural doctors cannot treat a child with measles in any way. The deceased's family has not officially informed us. However, we will look into the matter.
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