BSS, Rangamati :
The prevalence of malaria in the district is now on the decline due to preventive measures taken by the government and non-government organisations.
The rate of deaths from the disease, whose dreadfulness has taken a place in Bangla literature and still creates panic in the society, also declined in the neighbouring districts of Bandarban and Khargachari.
Malaria was a major health burden in the southeastern part of Bangladesh, especially in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). To control malaria in hilly forest areas was a big challenge.
A total of 13 districts, out of 64, are highly-endemic areas of malaria. With its lush vegetation, wide rivers and poor roads, Rangamati poses particular challenges. But the district cut the number of overall malaria cases from 28,000 in 2008 to 8,000 in 2012, and has reduced the number of malaria deaths from 24 to one in the same period.
The number of malaria cases has fallen in eight upazilas under Rangamati district as the government health department in collaboration with BRAC has taken dynamic initiatives to curb the menace in the hill district.
Some positive cases were removed for various initiatives. Azmat Ali Khan, 45, who used to live in Sadar upazila told BSS that he suddenly felt fever with jerking. Without knowing anything about it he just had some Paracetemol tablets he bought from a local pharmacy without a doctor’s advice. But he did not find any result. He was worried for not being cured.
Later, he went to a medical centre for treatment. Doctor advised him to get his blood tested. According to the instruction, he did this and the doctor found that malaria germs had attacked Azmat. Than he had been treated there for a fixed period to recover.
Sources said, BRAC health workers had distributed Long Lasting Mosquitoes Nets and treated-nets with medicine in last five years at local level to control the disease. The organization also supplied medicines by organizing awareness programme.
The Shasthya Shebikas and Shasthya Kormis (health workers) are responsible for providing diagnostic and treatment services at community level. They also refer patients to the nearest government health facilities and pay special attention to pregnant women, children under five kilograms of weight and severe malaria cases.
Rangamati Civil Surgeon Dr Mostafizur Rahman said that it has become possible due to combined efforts against fatal disease Malaria for the five years by the health department of government in collaboration with international organization Global Fund for Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) and reputed NGO BRAC.
