Free circumcision camp leaves 50 children ill on St Martin’s Island

A medical team has been sent to St Martin’s Island to treat more than 50 children who fell ill after undergoing circumcision during a free medical campaign.
The team, led by Dr Ashraful Islam and Deputy Assistant Shaokhat Hossain Mitu, reached the island around noon on Wednesday and began examining and treating the affected children.
Dr Nowshad Alam Kanan, a paediatrician at Teknaf Upazila Health Complex, said around 50 children had been examined and provided with necessary medicines. About 20 of them had experienced excessive bleeding than normal, while the condition of the others was relatively stable.
“We have examined around 50 children so far and provided them with necessary medicines. About 20 had relatively heavy bleeding. We hope they will recover after taking the medicines,” he said. He added that none of the children currently needed to be taken off the island.
According to the organisers, a free medical service and circumcision programme was held at a resort on St Martin’s Island on 4 October under the initiative of Al Momin Samaj Kalyan Foundation. A 14-member medical team led by an MBBS doctor circumcised 210 children aged between five and 15.
Dr Shahidul Islam, deputy assistant officer of St Martin’s Hospital, said more than 50 children had received treatment over the past two days. “Many of them developed infections at the circumcision sites and experienced excessive bleeding,” he said.
The doctors also stressed the need to ensure follow-up treatment and necessary medicines after such medical camps, saying adequate post-procedure care should be arranged alongside circumcision.
Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer SM Anik Chowdhury said an investigation has been ordered to determine why the children fell ill after the procedure.