Rangamati malaria situation improves

RANGAMATI, May 19 (BSS): The prevalence of malaria in the district is now on the decline due to preventive measures taken by government and non-government organisations.

The rate of deaths from the disease, whose dreadfulness has taken a place in Bangla literature and still creates panic in the society, also declined in the neighbouring districts of Bandarban and Khargachari.

Malaria was a major health burden in the southeastern part of Bangladesh, especially in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). To control malaria in hilly forest areas was a big challenge.

A total of 13 districts, out of 64, are highly-endemic areas of malaria. With its lush vegetation, wide rivers and poor roads, Rangamati poses particular challenges. But the district cut the number of overall malaria cases from 28,000 in 2008 to 8,000 in 2012, and has reduced the number of malaria deaths from 24 to one in the same period.

The number of malaria cases has fallen in eight upazilas under Rangamati district as the government health department in collaboration with BRAC has taken dynamic initiatives to curb the menace in the hill district.

Some positive cases were removed for various initiatives. Azmat Ali Khan, 45, who used to live in Sadar upazila told BSS that he suddenly felt fever with jerking. Without knowing anything about it he just had some Paracetemol tablets he bought from a local pharmacy without a doctor's advice. But he did not find any result. He was worried for not being cured.