Pune, August 10: Hours after the family of 14-year-old Reeda Shaikh, the first to die of swine flu in the country, sought an apology from Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad over a remark he made in New Delhi, Azad has said that he was sorry if Reeda’s mother had misunderstood his statement.
Reeda’s family on Sunday held a press conference in Pune saying they were hurt by Azad purportedly saying that mishandling of Reeda’s case had led to the spread of the disease in the city.
Reeda’s mother Shirin Shaikh said, “I tested negative for H1N1 virus. My family tested negative. The remarks of the Union Health Minister that others got infected due to Reeda are wrong. She didn’t go anywhere other than her school.”
Shirin, in the presence of her husband and other relatives sought an apology from the minister.
She also alleged that the failure of the government was the reason the infection was spreading and causing deaths. “If the government had created enough awareness, then even we would have taken all possible measures to save Reeda.”
“The death of Reeda is a sacrifice as it made others take the infection seriously. A higher number of cases is being reported only because of the awareness among people after the death of Reeda,” Ayesha, aunt of Reeda, said.
She said the government had announced setting up a committee to conduct an inquiry into the death of Reeda, but nothing has been done so far. “There is no committee so far. If this is the attitude of the government, then many Reedas will die. If the state government is not serious, then the CBI should inquire into the case.”
The Shaikh family has also filed a complaint against the directors of Jehangir Hospital, Ruby Hall Clinic and Dr Sanjay Agarwal, for alleged negligence on their part in treating Reeda.
–Agencies