Mass circumcision on St Martin’s leaves 50 children with infections, bleeding

At least 50 children developed infections and bleeding after a medical team circumcised 210 boys during a one-day free programme on St Martin’s Island, with two children requiring referral to Teknaf for advanced treatment.

The circumcisions were performed on Sunday, October 4, at St Martin Abakash Resort under an initiative of the Al Momin Social Welfare Foundation.

Organisers said a 14-member medical team led by an MBBS doctor circumcised 210 children aged between five and 15 and provided them with free medicines.

By Tuesday, however, dozens were arriving at St Martin’s Island Hospital.

Dr Shahidul Islam, an assistant medical officer at the hospital, said 50 children were treated between morning and evening, many with infected wounds and excessive bleeding.

Two children — Md Faisal and Ainul Islam — were referred to Teknaf because their conditions were serious.

Families of several affected children alleged that adequate hygiene and medical precautions had not been maintained during the mass circumcision programme. The precise causes of the complications, however, would require medical assessment.

Some parents said their children developed pain, swelling and pus at the wound sites before bleeding began.

Dr Naushad Alam Kanon, medical officer at Teknaf Upazila Health Complex, pointed to shortcomings in post-procedure wound care.

“The work was done in a hurry, and the amount of dressing and bandaging that was necessary was not properly done,” he said. “There were shortcomings because of this, and bleeding occurred.”

A medical team from Teknaf was being sent to the island to examine the affected children and provide further treatment.

St Martin Union Parishad Chairman Faizul Islam said there was no reason to panic and the children were expected to recover.

Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer SM Anik Chowdhury said the administration was looking into the incident.

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