Vaccination under open sky after health centre demolished, suffering

Radda MCH-FP Centre in Mirpur-1 of the capital has been reduced to rubble, and a day later children are being vaccinated under the open sky by erecting tarpaulins beside the road. The regular vaccination programme for children including measles has been started by placing tables and chairs outside the health centre from 10:30am on Saturday. As a result, children who came for vaccination, their mothers and health workers have all faced hardship.

On the spot it was seen that an temporary vaccination centre has been set up by hanging banners and tarpaulins in front of the gate of Radda MCH-FP Centre. Health workers and officials of the organisation are sitting there with the necessary materials for vaccination. Guardians are coming there with children of different ages.

A mother who brought her one-and-a-half-year-old daughter Halima for vaccination said she had earlier given her daughter vaccines from this health centre as it was near home. This time she has to come outside for vaccination as the health centre is no longer there.

Another guardian said last time he could give the child vaccine sitting inside the health centre. This time they have to stand outside as the service centre has been demolished. This is causing hardship to the child who is crying.

A woman named Israt said the date for her daughter’s next vaccine is next month. The previous vaccines were given from Radda health centre. So she has come there to know whether the next vaccine will also be given. Health workers informed her that arrangement will remain for the next vaccine as well.

Executive director of Radda MCH-FP Centre Nasrin Akhtar said the measles vaccination programme has started from Saturday. As the health centre has been demolished, arrangement for vaccination has been made by erecting tarpaulins and placing chairs and tables on the vacant space. However, other health services cannot be provided for the time being as before.

She said the measles vaccination programme has been started as per the government’s announcement. Effort is being made to keep the service running even in this fragile situation so that children of the surrounding area do not face problems in getting vaccines.

Radda officials said regular vaccines including measles vaccine are being given to children aged six months to five years to control the outbreak of measles. The programme that started at 9am will continue till 4pm. About 120 children have been vaccinated till 1:30pm.

Meanwhile, police have arrested four persons in connection with the vandalism and looting at the health centre. They were arrested from Mirpur area of the capital on Friday night. Officer-in-charge of Shah Ali Police Station Jahangir Alam confirmed the arrest at noon on Saturday.

He said the arrested persons have primarily admitted their involvement in the vandalism at Radda MCH-FP Centre. They have been sent to court. Drive is ongoing to arrest others involved in the incident.

The arrested persons are Md Sohel, 22, Md Jewel, 23, Md Jihad Hasan, 21, and Md Rabib, 20.

The vandalism and looting at Radda MCH-FP Centre in Mirpur-1 took place around 12am on Thursday night. It is alleged that more than two hundred masked persons entered the health centre with local weapons and held two security guards hostage. Later they looted valuable equipment, medicines, vaccines, cash and other materials. Afterwards the entire structure including one pucca and three semi-pucca buildings was reduced to rubble with heavy equipment.

It has been alleged that the vandalism was carried out under the banner of an organisation named ‘Sammomona Dokandar Samabay Samiti Limited’. Executive director of Radda MCH-FP Centre Nasrin Akhtar claimed damage of more than Tk 1 crore in the incident. She has filed a case as the plaintiff with Shah Ali Police Station over the incident.