A Correspondent:
Khulna: Prime Minister’s wife and vice-president of the Ziaur Rahman Foundation (ZRF) Dr Zubai-da Rahman has extended medical and nutritional support to a seven-month-old sick child from a distressed family in Koyra upazila of Khulna.
The child, Hussain, is from Sriphaltala village of Bagali Union under the upazila.
According to the family, Hussain’s mother is physically ill and unable to breastfeed him, while his father Harun is also suffering from health problems.
The family’s sole earner is the child’s elderly grandmother, who earns a living by begging. She was struggling to arrange food for the family and could not afford milk and treatment for the child.
Hussain’s plight came to public attention after information about his condition was shared on
Facebook and other social media platforms. The matter subsequently came to the attention of Dr
Zubaida Rahman.
She took the initiative to help the child and instructed ZRF Director (Programme) Prof Dr Shah
Mohammad Amanullah to arrange necessary assistance for Hussain and his family.
According to the family and Prof Dr Amanullah, Hussain had been fed salt water as the family could not afford suitable milk. He later developed severe malnutrition, skin problems and symp-toms of oral candidiasis, they said.
Later, on the initiative of ZRF and under the supervision of foundation member Dr M. R. Hasan,
Hussain and his family were admitted to Koyra Upazila Health Complex.
The child is receiving medical treatment and necessary milk, while other members of the family are also being provided with required healthcare services, Dr Amanullah said.
Hussain’s grandmother, with tears in her eyes, said, “I run my family by begging. I cannot afford to buy milk for the baby. I want to save my grandson.”
She expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Dr Zubaida Rahman for standing by the distressed family.
