Number of diarrhoea patients rising in sizzling summer

As the mercury has been rising day by day and a hot spell sweeping the country disrupting life since the onset of summer nearly 12 days back, people are becoming sick. With no rain in the last fortnight, the sweltering heat, coupled with and scarcity of pure drinking water and safe food, has been affectinng health of the people in the south and south western region. People are getting attacked by virus and bacterial diseases. The spread of water-borne and virul diseases are affecting life in Bagerhat, Khulna, Satkhira and other districts in the region for the last one week. With the weather getting hotter, pure drinking water and fresh foods and eateries are becoming dearer, health of the people, especially that of the poor, are becoming unwell due to intake of contaminated water and substandard, adulterated or unsafe food. Increasing number of such people have been falling ill after drinking impure water and consuming unsafe food as they have become more exposed to various types of diseases in the sizzling summer. In Bagerhat, a good number of people at different villages in several upazilas have been attacked by diarrhoea and various skin diseases. Hospital sources in the south-western district said the number of diarrhoea patients has marked a sharp rise in the district due to scorching heat prevailing over the last couple of weeks. A large number of patients, especially children, have been thronging to different hospitals and health complexes for taking treatment. According to Civil Surgeon office, 2,897 diarrhoea patients of nine upazilas of the districts received treatment at different hospitals and health complexes from March 24 to April 24. Eighty nine medical teams have been working in the district to provide treatment to the people suffering from diarrhoea. Besides, 10 control rooms have been opened in the district. Meanwhile, many patients are not getting proper treatment in the health complexes due to acute shortage of doctors. Local people’s representatives said poor people are the most affected due to soaring temperature and spread of diarrhoea. However, Civil Surgeon Dr Md Bakir Hossain said they are looking after all diarrhoea-affected patients and trying their best to provide necessary treatment and medicines at free of cost, according to a news agency.