Parents refuse to treat measles, argue it is a test of faith

The total death toll in the past 10 days has reached eight

SUKKUR: Parents in Khairpur district are refusing medical help for measles believing that the disease is a test of faith.

These Muslim families believe strongly in the Hindu mythology that the high fever and the red spots are signs that goddess Mata Rani has taken over the body of the children. Due to this, the parents are not letting the doctors provide vaccinations that can help treat their children.

In Khairpur’s Ajeeb Khan Dasti village near Thari Mir Wah, four children have died of measles in the past 24 hours. This brings the total death toll from the past 10 days to eight, confirmed Thari Mir Wah Taluka Hospital superintendent Dr Qurban Sahito.

The four victims were three-year-old Samandar Ali, four-year-old Ashfaq Ali, three-year-old Farhan Ahmed and three-year-old Mansab. There are further reports that over a dozen more children have contracted the virus.

Dr Sahito said that a team of doctors and vaccinators was sent to the affected village but the people refused to let them administer the vaccinations or provide medicine to their children. Dr Sahito visited the affected village himself and found that the families were playing religious songs to seek the goddess’ blessings.

The people in far flung areas still adhere to old customs and beliefs of the Hindu mythology even though most of them are Muslims, he explained, adding that they spend five to seven days playing songs to appease the goddess after which the child health is restored.

A team of doctors, led by Dr Mir Muhammad Soomro, is visiting these areas regularly and trying to vaccinate as many children as possible, Dr Sahito said. They are also trying to convince those families that hold these beliefs, he added.

Explaining the ritual, a resident of Thul, Mukhi Baksho Mal, explained that when Mata Rani takes over a child, he/she should be treated very politely. During the stay of the goddess, the child should not be given any kind of meat or fish and only served vegetables and boiled rice. The families also play religious songs to appease Mata Rani. Mal also explained that Hindus avoid giving medicines to children suffering from measles and prefer using their faith during the healing process.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 19^th, 2012.