Diarrhoea situation turns critical
Monday, 13 August 2007
About 359 flood-related deaths have been reported since July 30 while nearly 44,000 people have been attacked by diarrhoea in the aftermath of the devastating flood, reports UNB.
Health Adviser Matiur Rahman disclosed this at a press briefing at his ministry Sunday afternoon when thousands of patients stretched Dhaka's cholera hospital ICDDR,B to its limit forcing it to declare an "emergency" situation for the first time in its history.
The number of daily admissions crossed a record 1,000 patients Saturday, a top official said.
However, the Health Adviser said, of the dead, 320 people drowned, 21 died from snakebite, 7 died from respiratory problems and 11 of diarrhoea, he said. Over 83,000 people were affected by various types of diseases in the last two weeks as flood water started receding in 39 districts. Statistics released at the briefing showed 43,364 people were affected by diarrhoea, 6,711 suffering from respiratory problems, 6,353 from skin diseases and 14,12 from eye complications. Replying to a question, the Health Adviser said the present status of diarrhoea could not be considered epidemic. "Excepting flood-hit districts, there is no problem of such diseases in other areas," he said.
He also said the Health Ministry has full preparation to face the existing Health-related problems in the aftermath of the flood.
Matiur Rahman said special units have been set up at each
government hospital and heath complex to provide treatment to the diarrhoea-affected people. He said 19 mobile hospitals have been providing treatments in Dhaka, Tangail, Sherpur, Jamalpur, Munshiganj, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Narsinghdi and Manikganj districts from Sunday.
The official figures of the flood-related death tolls vary as the Health Ministry put it at 359 but a PID release Sunday put the toll at 268 with the addition of 13 more deaths.
Prof. Moazzem Hossain, Director (Diseases Control) of the Health Directorate, said so far five people have died from diarrhoea, a water-borne bacteria.
Official statistics say a total of 3,916 people have been admitted to government hospitals and ICDDR,B in 24 hours until Saturday midnight. In the last 24 hours, 292 people were admitted to hospitals in Dhaka, 225 in Tangail, 220 in Jamalpur, 213 in Sirajganj, 200 in Brahmanbaria, 190 in Sherpur and 161 in Gaibandha. Prof. Moazzem said diarrhoea units have been opened at all government hospitals in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country to ease the pressure on ICDDR,B, the country's lone specialised centre for the treatment of diarrhoea.
Doctors said the water-borne bacteria, which causes dehydration, are affecting the adults comparatively more. The ICDDR,B has set up tents and arranged additional beds in its compound and also appointed additional nurses and cleaners to cope with the emergency situation.
Other diseases and disasters also spread in an alarming form amid floods in the country. Seven died of respiratory tract infections that affected 6,032 people while 7,679 people contracted skin diseases and 1,285 others suffering from eye-related problems, according to the Health Directorate source.
Doctors said water-borne diseases, particularly diarrhoea, break out in the country during every flood.
They suggested forming more medical teams comprising Health Assistants and Family Welfare Assistants by the government to tackle such flood-related health hazards.
Meanwhile, a release from the Food and Disaster Management Ministry said nearly 9.211 million (92.11 lakh) people of 2.007 million families have been affected by flood in 199 upazilas of 33 districts.
Some 313,627 flood-affected people took shelter in 1,215 flood centres till Sunday morning.
A total of Tk 110 million has so far been allocated from the Chief Adviser's relief fund for the flood victims. The allocations include Tk 15 million each for Sirajganj and Kurigam districts; Tk 10 million each for the districts of Gaibandha, Manikganj and Jamalpur; and Tk 5.0 million each for Bogra, Pabna, Faridpur, Rajbari, Shariatpur, Netrakona, Sunamganj, Magura and Jhenidah districts. Besides, 13,415 tonnes of GR rice, Tk 35.201 miillion of GR cash and Tk 12.166 million as housing grants were distributed among different districts.
The flooding caused damage to 55,599 houses completely, 790,588 houses partially, standing crops on 6,32,959 acres totally and 593,641 acres partially, 2,279 km roads completely and 16,983 km roads partially, and 532 educational institutions completely and 5,608 partially.
Health Adviser Matiur Rahman disclosed this at a press briefing at his ministry Sunday afternoon when thousands of patients stretched Dhaka's cholera hospital ICDDR,B to its limit forcing it to declare an "emergency" situation for the first time in its history.
The number of daily admissions crossed a record 1,000 patients Saturday, a top official said.
However, the Health Adviser said, of the dead, 320 people drowned, 21 died from snakebite, 7 died from respiratory problems and 11 of diarrhoea, he said. Over 83,000 people were affected by various types of diseases in the last two weeks as flood water started receding in 39 districts. Statistics released at the briefing showed 43,364 people were affected by diarrhoea, 6,711 suffering from respiratory problems, 6,353 from skin diseases and 14,12 from eye complications. Replying to a question, the Health Adviser said the present status of diarrhoea could not be considered epidemic. "Excepting flood-hit districts, there is no problem of such diseases in other areas," he said.
He also said the Health Ministry has full preparation to face the existing Health-related problems in the aftermath of the flood.
Matiur Rahman said special units have been set up at each
government hospital and heath complex to provide treatment to the diarrhoea-affected people. He said 19 mobile hospitals have been providing treatments in Dhaka, Tangail, Sherpur, Jamalpur, Munshiganj, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Narsinghdi and Manikganj districts from Sunday.
The official figures of the flood-related death tolls vary as the Health Ministry put it at 359 but a PID release Sunday put the toll at 268 with the addition of 13 more deaths.
Prof. Moazzem Hossain, Director (Diseases Control) of the Health Directorate, said so far five people have died from diarrhoea, a water-borne bacteria.
Official statistics say a total of 3,916 people have been admitted to government hospitals and ICDDR,B in 24 hours until Saturday midnight. In the last 24 hours, 292 people were admitted to hospitals in Dhaka, 225 in Tangail, 220 in Jamalpur, 213 in Sirajganj, 200 in Brahmanbaria, 190 in Sherpur and 161 in Gaibandha. Prof. Moazzem said diarrhoea units have been opened at all government hospitals in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country to ease the pressure on ICDDR,B, the country's lone specialised centre for the treatment of diarrhoea.
Doctors said the water-borne bacteria, which causes dehydration, are affecting the adults comparatively more. The ICDDR,B has set up tents and arranged additional beds in its compound and also appointed additional nurses and cleaners to cope with the emergency situation.
Other diseases and disasters also spread in an alarming form amid floods in the country. Seven died of respiratory tract infections that affected 6,032 people while 7,679 people contracted skin diseases and 1,285 others suffering from eye-related problems, according to the Health Directorate source.
Doctors said water-borne diseases, particularly diarrhoea, break out in the country during every flood.
They suggested forming more medical teams comprising Health Assistants and Family Welfare Assistants by the government to tackle such flood-related health hazards.
Meanwhile, a release from the Food and Disaster Management Ministry said nearly 9.211 million (92.11 lakh) people of 2.007 million families have been affected by flood in 199 upazilas of 33 districts.
Some 313,627 flood-affected people took shelter in 1,215 flood centres till Sunday morning.
A total of Tk 110 million has so far been allocated from the Chief Adviser's relief fund for the flood victims. The allocations include Tk 15 million each for Sirajganj and Kurigam districts; Tk 10 million each for the districts of Gaibandha, Manikganj and Jamalpur; and Tk 5.0 million each for Bogra, Pabna, Faridpur, Rajbari, Shariatpur, Netrakona, Sunamganj, Magura and Jhenidah districts. Besides, 13,415 tonnes of GR rice, Tk 35.201 miillion of GR cash and Tk 12.166 million as housing grants were distributed among different districts.
The flooding caused damage to 55,599 houses completely, 790,588 houses partially, standing crops on 6,32,959 acres totally and 593,641 acres partially, 2,279 km roads completely and 16,983 km roads partially, and 532 educational institutions completely and 5,608 partially.