RANGPUR, July 31: With the recession of flood water, various types of waterborne diseases including diarrhoea, respiratory problems, skin infection, fever, dysentery and itching are breaking out in different flood-affected areas under Rangpur division.
Thousands of flood- affected people living on the road, flood control embankment and government shelters in different areas under the region have become vulnerable to the waterborne diseases. Day by day the number of affected people is increasing in the areas, sources said.
A good number of people in the flood-hit areas are coming to hospitals everyday with diarrhoea and other stomach complains. Eating of rotten and stale food and drinking polluted water are the main reasons for the disease outbreaks, hospital sources said.
Asadul (45) of Soudpara village at Kolkond union under Gangachara upazila in Rangpur district told the FE that his four- yea old- daughter has been suffering from diarrhoea for the last few days. Many people of his area and adjacent areas have been suffering from different water -borne diseases including diarrhoea, skin disease and dysentery owing to scarcity of pure drinking water, he alleged.
A number of affected people of different areas of the flood hit districts alleged that they have been suffering from acute shortage of pure drinking water for long. As a result, many of them have been affected with different types of waterborne diseases especially diarrhoea, dysentery and skin infection. Some flood victims who have taken shelter in flood control dam said sometimes, they are compelled to use contaminated water to cook or drink as they have no alternative.
Saidur Mia of Char Pallimari at Kawnia upazila in Rangpur district said his five- year- old son has been suffering from diarrhoea for last couple of days and treated with oral saline. His wife is suffering from skin diseases, he added.
Many people of the flood -hit areas said as most of the tubewells in their locality have been submerged under floodwater, the health department should distribute adequate water purifying tablets among the affected people.
According to skin specialists, many people of flood affected areas of the region have been suffering from skin related diseases due to water stagnancy in the areas.
Civil Surgeon, Rangpur office sources said the authority concerned has taken the matter seriously. A number of medical teams are working in the affected areas of the region. Teams of veterinarians are also working for the control of cattle diseases. They are also creating awareness to prevent flood related waterborne diseases, sources added.
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