Improving health index reduces waterborne diseases

RANGPUR, July 8 (BSS): Continuous improvement of all health indexes along with increasing mass public awareness has substantially reduced recurrence of waterborne diseases and related deaths in the rural areas.
During the past five years, the rural people have achieved laudable success in health, hygiene, sanitation, nutrition, safe drinking water, nutrition and safe delivery because of the massive government steps and awareness building activities.
The government and NGO level health officials and workers, union health sub-centres and community clinics are playing vital roles along with different other concerned departments and organisations, WHO and UNICEF to achieve the success.
According to Community Medicine Specialist of Rangpur Medical College and Hospital Dr Fazlul Haque, recurrence of diarrhoea, cholera, dysentery, hookworm and ringworm has been reduced to the minimum in recent years.
As a result of huge awareness created among the grassroots people, rate of neonatal, child and maternal mortalities has also been reduced to the minimum, including Rangpur division, he added.
Recently retired Rangpur Divisional Director (Health) Dr Shahadat Hossain said recurrence of waterborne diseases among the people has been reduced to the minimum improving all public health indexes during the past five years.
He said the under-5 children mortality rate has reduced to below 53 now among every 1,000 against 88 in 2003 while maternal mortality rate dipped to below 194 per every 100,000 against over 230 even a decade ago.