Diarrhoea still beyond control in Nilphamari

Our Nilphamari Correspondent reported that the diarrhoea situation remained beyond control even after two months of its outbreak.

Out of frustration and superstition people in the diarrhoea affected areas adopted a different way to prevent its spread further. Considering the disease as an act of evil power, villagers at Vengtiapara in Gayabari union under Dimla upazila, Panjapara, Amrul Bari and Kathali villages under Jaldhaka upazila formed a number of vigilance teams to guard their villages at night so that the evil power do not enter their villages. They were beating drums and other instruments at night and shouted "Allah Akbar" and "Yea Ali" with a view to frightening the evil power.

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However, the district health department sources informed The Daily Star that in the 24 hours ending Monday noon, 44 more diarrhoea patients got admitted in Nilphamari Sadar Hospital.

But when this correspondent tried to contact the control room, he failed to establish contact with anyone as none was available there till 2 pm on Monday.

The civil surgeon and other officials were found very busy with the appointment process of health assistants on Monday.

No report of stool and vomit culture reached here till Monday noon from the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Diseases and Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR, B), Dhaka.

When this correspondent asked the Deputy Jailor of Nilphamari jail Mominul Haq whether any new diarrhoea patients were shifted to the sadar hospital or not, he replied in the negative. He informed that steps had been taken to prevent its further spread in the prison. On Sunday, a convict named Ekramul Hossain, serving jail term in the district prison was admitted to the 50-bed hospital.

Our Gaibandha Correspondent reported that an acute scarcity of IV saline had been prevailing in the upazila health complexes of the district.

Attendants of critical patients procured saline from medicine shops outside the hospitals at an exorbitant price.

Nearly 30 patients of Sunderganj Upazila Health Complex returned homes disappointed as no physician was available there on Sunday afternoon, according to eye witnesses.

President and Secretary of the Gaibandha unit of Bangladesher Communist Party expressed their concern at the spread of the disease. They also alleged gross negligence of the authorities concerned to combat the situation. They demanded of the administration to supply saline in the hospitals on an emergency basis.