Children are the future of any civilization. It is mandatory to take care a child for their wellbeing. Parents, society as well as the country are equally responsible to ensure children's full protection. A large number of children were died of renal failure recently as a side effect of Paracetamol syrup produced and marketed by the company named Rid. As reported on the Daily Star of 24 July 2009 .. as the paracetamol syrup containing poisonous Diethylene Glycol was provided to the children across the country, some 34 children with acute renal failure were admitted to Dhaka Shishu Hospital and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Hospital over the last one and a half months
Among them 25 died, with Antu Datt, a four-year boy and son of a tea seller, being the last victim who died at Dhaka Shishu Hospital yesterday morning after remaining unconscious for five days. Antu was suffering from acute fever, oedema and suppression of urine from July 12 and was admitted to the Dhaka Shishu Hospital on July 18 after receiving treatment at Chittagong Ma O Shishu Hospital, Chittagong Medical College Hospital and National Hospital in Chittagong.
This is not a unique incidence of death of children and adults in Bangladesh due to the administration of any faulty medicine. Unfortunately the people of Bangladesh are always becoming victim of these adulteration in medicines, foods etc, where peoples voice have little importance to the government machineries as well as peoples representatives in the parliament.
Recently in another incidence some school going children were become sick after taking nutritious biscuits, that programme was financed by World Food Programme. These activities have been happening only because of insincerity, dishonesty of different regulatory bodies of the government of Bangladesh.
As citizens, voters, tax payers of this country people have rights to ask government that how long innocent people including children will be the subjects of trials and errors and human rights will be violated. How long general people will remain the guinea- pig of the pharmaceutical companies, food and beverage companies, and their sellers, suppliers, marketers, etc.?
The concerned department and ministry of GoB should took legal actions not only against the accused medicine companies but also the regulatory bodies and other concerned businesspeople, govt. department and/ or agencies. The minor steps taken by the government, i.e. departmental investigation and minimum punishment. As reported on the same report of Daily Star on 24 July 2009 ..Earlier on Wednesday, the Drug Administration sealed off the Rid factory in Brahmanbaria BSCIC area after reports of 24 deaths due to renal failures upon intakes of toxin paracetamol.
Bangladesh, one of the countries, who signed and ratified United Nations Convention on the rights of the Child (UNCRC), is in an obligation to protect children from all sorts of hazards including food and medicine adulteration. A number of local organizations are also working to promote the rights of children with the financial support from Save the Children Alliances and other similar organizations. It is the responsibility of civil society organizations to raise their voice to protect innocent children. It is evident that in Bangladesh children are highly vulnerable regarding their halth care as well as overall protection.
Death of 25 children due to taking Paracetamol of Rid and sickness due to taking nutritious buscuits are criminal offenses. A criminal investigation is required to identify all the criminals. The accused pharmaceutical company and concerned departments should be taken to legal action.Concerned departments (including drug directorate or other regulatory bodies) are equally accused; they should also face the trial.
| About Author MD. ANISUZZAMAN : |
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Article Source: http://www.bharatbhasha.net
Article Url: http://www.bharatbhasha.net/newsletters.php/160819
Article Added on Monday, August 31, 2009
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