33 child deaths in 11 days: Rajshahi Medical to get 4 ventilators tomorrow

Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) will receive four ventilators tomorrow (30 March), Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain said today.

The move comes after the deaths of 33 children in 11 days at the hospital, reportedly due to a shortage of ICU ventilators.

Speaking to reporters at the inauguration of the International Pharmaceutical Industry Fair at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in Dhaka today, the minister said the government has so far received a donation of five ventilators following the deaths.

“We are collecting the ventilators today. Tomorrow morning, our secretary will go to Rajshahi and hand over four of them,” he said.

Sakhawat added that necessary preparations are being taken to ensure proper treatment for measles patients.

He also said that local pharmaceutical manufacturers are expected to provide more than a dozen additional ventilators to the government in the coming days.

“These ventilators will strengthen our capacity to treat patients, including those affected by measles,” he added.

Between 10 March and 24 March, at least 44 children undergoing treatment at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital died after failing to secure admission to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), hospital officials said.

The hospital has a 40-bed ICU, with only 12 for children.