Incidence of diarrhea is increasing due to floods, treatment is being done on the roads and under the trees

After the severe floods in the eastern part of the country, the water-borne diseases such as diarrhoea, skin diseases, respiratory problems, pneumonia and fever have increased as the situation normalized. Most of the victims are children and the elderly.

Feni, Noakhali, Comilla and Lakshmipur districts of Chittagong Division have suffered the most damage in the current flood. Somewhere in these districts, people have been living without water for two weeks.

Due to the inundation of tube wells, people are suffering from diarrhea in many parts of the rural townships of the four districts due to lack of clean water. Due to water all around, many people are not able to go out and are taking primary treatment at home. When the situation worsens, they are admitted to hospitals and upazila health complexes.

Health departments and hospitals of four districts have informed that their medical teams are working day and night in flood-affected areas. They have enough medicine and saline. There is no shortage of medicines or services despite the patient pressure in the hospital.

Beds on the road-trees

The authorities of Feni General Hospital, the largest government medical center in Feni, are struggling to provide medical services to patients who are almost 10 times more than capacity in the diarrhea ward. Due to shortage of beds, patients are receiving treatment on the floor and outside the ward.

The number of admitted patients against 17 beds in the ward is 176. Patients from zero to 30 years are receiving medical care here. Older patients are being treated in another building. There are also 80 patients against 21 beds. Due to the pressure of additional patients, patients are being treated under the open sky to get beds in the hospital yard and under trees. 136 people are receiving treatment against 26 beds in the hospital's children's ward.

Payra Akter came to the hospital with her four-year-old daughter from Dhalia area of ​​Sadar Upazila. Without getting a bed in the diarrhea ward, he is being treated in the front garden. He said, there is no such condition to stay in the ward, there is so much pressure of patients. I am forced to take treatment under the open sky under the trees. In this situation, there is more suffering in the sun.

Ali Ahmed, a resident of Sindurpur in Daganbhuya Upazila said, I am here with my granddaughter for three days. Examination revealed pneumonia. It is so hot here that the relatives are also getting sick.

Swapna Akhtar, a resident of Teteshwar area of ​​Parashuram Upazila, said, I was outside for two days with difficulty. The pressure of so many patients can't be called properly. No place to stand anyway. Returning home not fully recovered.

Salma Rhea brought a girl suffering from diarrhea from Sharshdi area. After waiting for an hour, the nurses applied saline, but he could not get a place inside, so he sat on a mat on the side of the road and received treatment.

Salma Riya said, even after coming to the hospital, they have to sit under the open sky and receive treatment. Many people like me are sitting on the streets and in the garden for treatment.

Sathi Akhter, a nurse in charge of the diarrhea ward, said that it is not possible to treat patients many times more than the capacity with a small number of manpower. In such a situation, if the higher authorities set up a field hospital and increase the manpower, the patients will benefit more.

Another senior nurse working in the hospital's children's ward, who did not want to be named, said that a record number of patients are being admitted, surpassing all previous numbers. Despite our best efforts, the reality is different. It is really hard to work. It is not possible to ensure the desired service with this manpower to several times more patients than normal conditions.

Shyamoli Rani, in charge of the children's ward, said that 136 people are receiving treatment against 26 beds in the children's ward. There is no nurse compared to that. The patient is struggling to cope with the pressure.

Resident Medical Officer (RMO) of Feni General Hospital, Mohammad Nazmul Hasan Sammi, said that the number of patients suffering from diarrhea in Feni has increased significantly since the flood.

It is very difficult for us to serve a large number of patients in a short range. That's why mainly the patients are taking treatment some on the floor and some outside.

In this regard, District Civil Surgeon Mohammad Shihab Uddin said that the number of waterborne diarrhea patients has increased along with other diseases after the flood. Diarrhea patients are constantly being admitted to the health complexes in five other upazilas of the district including Feni's 250 bed general hospital.

District Civil Surgeon Mohammad Shihab Uddin said that till Tuesday morning, 2 thousand 368 people have received treatment for diarrhea in all government hospitals of the district. Despite the limited manpower, doctors and nurses are trying to serve all the patients.

10 times more patients than beds

In Noakhali, the number of people suffering from diarrhea is increasing in flood-affected areas. Doctors and nurses are struggling to handle the pressure of patients in government hospitals. Many patients are being treated on the floor due to lack of bed space.

District Civil Surgeon Masum Iftekhar said that 220 people are receiving treatment at the eight upazila health complex of Noakhali and 280 patients at the Noakhali General Hospital on Wednesday. Three people have died of diarrhea so far.

Resident Medical Officer (RMO) of Noakhali General Hospital, Syed Mohiuddin Abdul Azim, said that there are 16 beds in their diarrhea ward. Several times more patients are receiving treatment. Many are taking treatment on the floor due to lack of bed space.

Due to lack of space in the diarrhea ward, a diarrhea ward has been opened on an emergency basis on the second floor of the under-construction building of the hospital. There too, due to lack of space, medical services are being provided by keeping patients on the floor.

Shahadat Hossain (29) of Krishnarampur village of Kadir Hanif Union has been in hospital with his son and sister's daughter for four days.

Md. of the same area. Al Amin's seven-month-old son and younger sister's one-year-old son were admitted on Tuesday. He said that due to lack of enough nurses and doctors, we are not getting proper treatment.

Sohail Rana (30) of Abirampur village of Amanullahpur union of Begumganj upazila brought his 11-month-old daughter and admitted him on Tuesday night.

Sohail Rana was saying that some other children in their village were sick with diarrhoea. At first they were treating at home. Later, as the condition did not improve, he came to the hospital.

Yasmin Akhtar (20) of Shantarhat Banglabazar of Underchar Union of Sadar Upazila has been hospitalized for three days due to dehydration. He was saying, there is water around the house. In this situation, the movement of people is also difficult. Many are sick but unable to leave their homes.

Saidul Haque (70) of East Hajipur of Begumganj was treated at a private hospital in Choumuhani for two days and was admitted to Noakhali General Hospital on Tuesday night after seeing that his condition was not improving.

Patient pressure in 3 upazilas of Comilla

The upazila health complex in the flood-affected area has increased the number of people suffering from water-borne diseases including diarrhoea. However, officials of the District Civil Surgeon's office say there is nothing to panic about. Overall the situation in Comilla is good.

Deputy Civil Surgeon of Comilla Muhammad Nazmul Alam said that since August 21, 977 people have been hospitalized due to diarrhea in 17 upazilas of Comilla district. Out of this, 81 diarrhea patients have come to the hospital and received treatment in the last 24 hours.

As the flood water started receding, the number of people suffering from diarrhea and various skin diseases increased slightly. But there is nothing to panic about it. Each of our upazila health complexes has sufficient quantity of medicines and saline.

The Deputy Civil Surgeon said that their 225 medical teams are working in flood-hit areas including shelters. People in every area are advised to go to the hospital for treatment if they are sick.

Nazmul Alam said that 14 upazilas of Comilla were affected by floods, but the number of diarrhea patients is slightly higher in four upazilas. The upazilas are – Chouddagram, Manoharganj, Nangalkot and Laksam.

However, after such a big flood, the situation is still 'fairly good', he assessed.

He said, people should be aware of these issues. In particular, safe food should be taken and pure water should be drunk. If you are sick, consult a doctor.

Chauddagram Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer. Golam Kibria Tipu said that the number of water-borne patients including diarrhea is increasing as the flood water recedes.

Currently 15 diarrhea patients are admitted in our hospital. Eight to 10 diarrhea patients are coming to this hospital every day. Our medical team is working to sensitize the Banvasi people.

Manoharganj Upazila Health Complex Resident Medical Officer (RMO) Aklima Jahan said that most areas of Manoharganj are still flooded. Knee water in front of our hospital. However, the water has decreased slightly. Currently, the number of people affected by water borne diseases is increasing in this upazila.

Along with diarrhea, there are more patients with foot rot along with various skin diseases. An average of 10 diarrhea patients are admitted every day. We have enough medicine and food saline. Patients are returning home after treatment.

Nangalkot Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Devdas Dev said that the number of diarrhea patients in Nangalkot has not increased. Two or three patients are coming every day; The situation of this upazila was like this even before the flood.

He said, we have been working on this issue since the beginning of the flood. Because of this awareness has increased among people. Apart from this, our medical team has been working in the flood-affected areas with every shelter since the beginning of the flood.

Adequate quantities of water purification tablets are being given to people. Medicines and food saline are adequately stocked. Overall our situation is better than other upazilas.

76 of 107 patients are children

According to District Civil Surgeon Ahmedul Karim, 905 people have been treated for diarrhea in Lakshmipur so far due to the severe floods.

Most of the diarrheal patients admitted to the Laxmipur 100-bed Sadar Hospital come from flood-affected areas. Many have come to the shelter sick.

Achia Khatun with her seven-year-old son Arman has been admitted to the diarrhea ward for several days. He was saying, we were stuck in water during the flood. Our room was knee deep, our tubewell was under water. Drinking water was a problem then. A bottle of water was given along with the relief. We cooked and ate at home. Still my son has diarrhoea.

Zahir Uddin (51) in Krishnapur area of ​​Sadar Upazila said that their house is still full of water. He and his family moved into a school shelter next to the house. They have been there for 12 days. He developed diarrhea on Tuesday. After that, he came to Sadar Hospital and was admitted.

Lakshmipur Sadar Hospital does not have sesame type of place in diarrhea ward. On Wednesday afternoon, 107 diarrhea patients were admitted to the hospital. Among them, the number of children patients is 76.

Hospital's Resident Medical Officer (RMO) Arup Pal said, 107 patients are being treated in the 10-bed diarrhea ward. There are 380 patients admitted in the 100-bed hospital today. We are struggling to provide medical services.

Source: bdnews24.com

Bangladesh /SBT