Gaibandha diarrhoea kills 5, attacks1545 in 3 days
106 medical teams deployed to tackle situation
Our Correspondent, Gaibandha
Diarrhoea killed five people and attacked at least 300 in three days in Gaibandha, raising the death toll to 14 since outbreak of the disease a week ago, according to sources at the Civil Surgeons office. At least 1,545 people have been attacked with the disease, they said. Unofficial sources however put the death toll so far at 18 and the number of people attacked at over 3000. Those killed in last three days are Mehdi Hasan,4, of Satidaha village in Palashbari upazila; Dulu Mia, 5, of Kanchibari village in Sunderganj upazila; Furatu Roy, 38, of Bhatgram village, Jakir Mia, 3, of Mohishbandi and Hafiz Mia, 65, of Taherpur in all Sadullapur upazila. Diarrhoea was spreading in the district in the last fortnight but the situation is now under control, the Civil Surgeon said. "We have adequate stock of IV saline and other medicines. People are being attacked with the disease as they are eating uneatable things due to monga (a pre-harvest period when there is no work for farm labourers) in remote areas", he said. Sources at the district control room said people die from the disease because they are not well aware of the need for immediate treatment. Diarrhoea patients need instant treatment but patients are brought to hospital from remote areas when their condition turns critical, said a doctor at Sadullapur Upazila Health Complex. The district health department has formed 106 medical teams who are now working in affected areas. Besides, special teams have also been deployed at Upazila headquarters, they said. Khademul Islam, Chairman of Faridpur Union Parishad in Sadullapur upazial said diarrhoea is spreading due to food crisis in remote areas where poor day labourers are compelled to take uneatable things as they have no money to buy food. Mere treatment facilities will not contain the disease unless people are supplied with rice under government's special programme, he said.
| 
