Natural disasters and floods have affected 5.5 million people in Bangladesh
Adnan Mahfuz
So far this year, floods have killed 263 people in 33 districts of the country. Besides, 84,498 people have been affected by various diseases.
The northern, north-eastern, and central lowlands of the country have been inundated by three rounds of floods this season. Natural disasters and floods have affected at least 5.5 million people in different parts of the country.
An official in charge of the Health Emergency Operations Centre and Control Room of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and Deputy Chief (Medical) of the Management Information System(MIS) of DGHS, Dr. A. B. Md. Shamsuzzaman has given this information.
According to the Health Emergency Operations Centre and Control Room of the Department of Health, in 33 districts, 84 thousand 498 people affected due to diarrhea, RTI, skin diseases, eye infections, snake bites, drowning, flooding, and respiratory diseases from June 30 to September 28 this year and 263 people have died.
Two hundred and thirteen people have been killed due to drowning, 32 people died after being bitten by a snake. Besides, 15 people were killed in the lightning strike, and the rest died of other causes.
It is learned that diarrhea, RTI, skin diseases, eye inflammation, snake bites, drowning, and flooding have caused various injuries and respiratory tract infections among the flood-hit districts.
Madaripur has the highest number of 39,809 people affected by these diseases, and the highest death toll was 43 in the Tangail district. And 32 people died in Jamalpur district.
According to the department, 29 726 people have been affected by diarrhea so far in the flood-hit areas, 29 thousand six hundred and 82 people are affected by skin diseases. Besides, RTI has affected 10,933 people. The rest have been affected by other diseases.
There are now 515 shelters for the ordinary people in the 33 flood-hit districts. Two thousand eight hundred and forty-two medical teams are working to treat the affected people in these areas.
Meanwhile, the civil surgeon, the local administration, and the people’s representatives are always supervising.
Government ministries are working in a coordinated manner to control the flood situation. Good purification tablets and other medicines are being distributed to ensure access to clean water in flood-hit areas. Health services are being provided to the victims in compliance with the health rules.
