Legal notice seeks vaccination of expecting mothers on priority basis
A rights organisation served a legal notice on the government yesterday, requesting it to take necessary steps in 24 hours to provide Covid-19 vaccine to expecting mothers on priority basis.
Law and Life Foundation sent the notice via email to health secretary, principal secretary at prime minister's office, cabinet secretary, directorate general of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and director of Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) to take necessary measures.
In the notice, the rights body said if the notice receivers do not take steps in 24 hours, a writ petition will be moved before the High Court, seeking necessary directives on them to do so.
Citing health ministry information, the organisation in the notice said around 35 lakh women of the country become pregnant every year, but thousands of expecting mothers and children are dying due to Covid-19.
Deaths of expecting mothers and their children can be reduced, if they are vaccinated on priority basis, the notice read.
The organisation said it is the government's responsibility to give expecting mothers the option to register for vaccination on the Surokkha App.
Earlier on May 31 last year, following a writ petition, the High Court bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim directed authorities concerned to conduct necessary tests, including that of Covid-19, and provide treatment to expecting women on priority basis at all government and private hospitals.
The writ petition was filed after The Daily Star published a report with a photo of expecting mother Jhuma being denied treatment at some hospitals, including Dhaka Medical College Hospital, on May 21 last year.
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