UNB, Khulna :
The number of arsenic-affected patients in the district has increased in recent times as elevated levels of arsenic contamination has spread newer areas.
According to sources at Civil Surgeon’s Office, arsenic contamination has recently been detected in tube-well waters in erstwhile unaffected union parishads (UP), including Dhamalia, Rudaghora, Kharnia, Shovna, Bhandarpara, Rangpur, Gutudia, Magurkhali in Dumuria upazila; Sadar in Koira; Kailashganj and Sutarkhali in Dakope; Sadar and Dighalia in Batiaghata of the district.
The number of arsenicosis patients documented in the district stood almost around 600 over the last couple of years while the figure used to remain below 500 about a decade ago, the sources added.
So far, 15 arsenic affected people died in the district in last 13 years.
Surveys recently conducted by a project of Department of Health and Public Engineering (DPHE) also showed that 25,693 shallow tube-wells of the total 59,821 tube-wells in the district are contaminated by arsenic.
The DPHE sources also mentioned that the condition of arsenic pollution is the worst in TS Bahirdia UP of Rupsha upazila, Gadaipur UP in Paikgachha upazila, Senhati and Sadar UPs of Dighliya upazila.
Shofiqul Islam, residential medical officer of Paikgachha Upazila Health Complex, said there is a scarcity of medicine in the Health Complex and the patients.
However, the number of patients coming to the Health Complex for medical facilities is also low, he added.
Moshiur Rahman, medical officer of Godaipur sub-health centre, also informed that there is a scarcity of medicines at the centre.
Parvin Khatun, daughter of Azgar Ali, a resident of Formaishkhana village of Dighliya upazila, said she has been suffering from arsenicosis over the last five years, but could not avail of any assistance from the Upazila Health Complex.
The DPHE sources said that the arsenic contamination has been accelerated with the depletion of groundwater level due to water lifting in unplanned way.
The number of arsenic-affected patients in the district has increased in recent times as elevated levels of arsenic contamination has spread newer areas.
According to sources at Civil Surgeon’s Office, arsenic contamination has recently been detected in tube-well waters in erstwhile unaffected union parishads (UP), including Dhamalia, Rudaghora, Kharnia, Shovna, Bhandarpara, Rangpur, Gutudia, Magurkhali in Dumuria upazila; Sadar in Koira; Kailashganj and Sutarkhali in Dakope; Sadar and Dighalia in Batiaghata of the district.
The number of arsenicosis patients documented in the district stood almost around 600 over the last couple of years while the figure used to remain below 500 about a decade ago, the sources added.
So far, 15 arsenic affected people died in the district in last 13 years.
Surveys recently conducted by a project of Department of Health and Public Engineering (DPHE) also showed that 25,693 shallow tube-wells of the total 59,821 tube-wells in the district are contaminated by arsenic.
The DPHE sources also mentioned that the condition of arsenic pollution is the worst in TS Bahirdia UP of Rupsha upazila, Gadaipur UP in Paikgachha upazila, Senhati and Sadar UPs of Dighliya upazila.
Shofiqul Islam, residential medical officer of Paikgachha Upazila Health Complex, said there is a scarcity of medicine in the Health Complex and the patients.
However, the number of patients coming to the Health Complex for medical facilities is also low, he added.
Moshiur Rahman, medical officer of Godaipur sub-health centre, also informed that there is a scarcity of medicines at the centre.
Parvin Khatun, daughter of Azgar Ali, a resident of Formaishkhana village of Dighliya upazila, said she has been suffering from arsenicosis over the last five years, but could not avail of any assistance from the Upazila Health Complex.
The DPHE sources said that the arsenic contamination has been accelerated with the depletion of groundwater level due to water lifting in unplanned way.
