DIFFERENT kinds of waterborne diseases have begun spreading as floodwater started receding across the country. But in the post-flood scenario, many people are suffering from diarrhoea, skin diseases, dysentery, cholera and other waterborne diseases. Officials of the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre said the flood situation may continue improving in Tangail, Sirajganj, Bogura, Jamalpur, Kurigram, Gaibandha and Sylhet, while it may remain unchanged in Manikganj, Rajbari, Faridpur and Munshiganj. Except for the Padma, the water levels of all major rivers are decreasing.
Over 4.2 million people in 21 districts, including Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Bandarban, Khagrachhari, Rangamati and Feni, were affected by the recent flood, according to the National Disaster Response Co-Ordination Centre. In Bogura, many flood-affected people are suffering from diarrhoea, cholera and various skin diseases. Around 1,000 patients took treatment at Sonatola Upazila Medical Camp. In Sirajganj, over 50 people were affected with waterborne diseases, mainly diarrhoea, over the last three days, according to officials of District’s Civil Surgeon office. The condition of other affected districts is almost same.
We know, flooding and water-borne diseases are co-related. Usually, flooding is associated with an increased risk of infection. After the major floods which occurred in Bangladesh in the last decade we witnessed major outbreak of diarrhoeal disease. There were other communicable diseases also. This was probably because the flood situation becomes complicated by population displacement. Besides, major risk factor for outbreaks associate with flooding is the contamination of water. Not only that, there always remains an increased risk of infection of other water-borne diseases contracted through direct contact with contaminated waters, such as wound infections, dermatitis, conjunctivitis, and ear, nose illness.
The current flood has also caused damage to crops and roads and highways while river erosion rendered many homeless. The government should take all sorts of initiatives for rehabilitation of the flood victims. Sending of sufficient relief materials to the flood-hit areas must be ensured. At the same time, we called upon the well-off people to stand beside the flood-affected people to mitigate their sufferings. The people who have lost their farmlands and homesteads badly need government’s cooperation for their rehabilitation.
