Thousands of suspected hydrocele patients living in 10 northern districts of the country remain out of treatment or feel ashamed of seeking treatment mainly due to social stigma, said a new study.
The findings of the study, titled 'Ensuring Health Equity and Economic Participation for Chronic Lymphatic Filariasis Patients through Surgical Intervention in Bangladesh', were shared at an event organised by the icddr,b in Dhaka on Monday.
In 10 northern endemic districts of Bangladesh, about 25,000 suspected hydrocele patients live who mostly have found themselves ashamed of seeking healthcare due to social stigma, said the study.
Many of these patients cannot afford the cost of hydrocele surgery, leading them to remain excluded from mainstream socio-economic activities.
Filariasis is a parasitic disease transmitted to humans through culex mosquito bites. Swelling of the affected limb followed by fever episodes is the disease's main symptom, which in the long run may cause the person various degrees of disabilities.
Filariasis is also manifested by extensive scrotal swelling, known as hydrocele.
Since 2022, with support from Bangladesh Bank (BB), icddr,b has provided surgical assistance with the help of local government hospitals to 203 patients with hydrocele.
Of them, 145 are from Rangpur and 58 from Kurigram districts.
The surgical intervention is highly cost-effective (1:15), meaning the economic benefit of the surgery outweighs the cost of surgery by 15 times.
Moreover, these patients are now capable of working for more hours than before, averting their Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs).
Professor Dr Md Nazmul Islam, line director, Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), attended the seminar as the chief guest.
Prof Islam said, "People suffering from hydrocele and other neglected tropical diseases face a lot of social stigma which impact their lives greatly. Through this initiative, icddr,b and Bangladesh Bank are helping those most in need."
Chowdhury Liakat Ali, additional director, Sustainable Finance Department of BB, on behalf of the central bank expressed their intention to continue supporting people affected by hydrocele.
Ragib Ibnul Asif, deputy director, Sustainable Finance Department of BB, and Dr Sabera Sultana, national professional officer, WHO-Bangladesh, were also present.
Dr Shams El Arifeen, acting executive director of icddr,b, chaired the event, while Dr M M Aktaruzzaman, CDC, DGHS, delivered the keynote speech.
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