Kala Azar breaks out in Netrakona

People suspecting Kala Azar infection crowd Kalmakanda upazila health complex on Tuesday for blood test. PHOTO: STAR

Sources at the tow upazila health complexes said at least 132 people have been afflicted by the disease. Of them, 69 are in Durgapur and 63 in Kalmakanda.

They said the disease was first detected about a month ago. It spread because its treatment is costly for the people.

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This correspondent visited Kalmakanda Upazila Health Complex on Tuesday and talked to some patients. They alleged that the injection for treatment of the disease is scarce at Kalmakanda upazila headquarter.

They have to buy an injection at Tk 200 to 250 against its normal price of Tk 119.

A patient needs 10 to 12 injections for recovery, sources at the upazila health complex said. So a patient has to spend Tk 2500 to 3000 to recovery, which is beyond the ability of the poor people.

Islamuddin, a patient, who came to Kalmakanda Health Complex from a bordering village of upazila, was admitted five days back. Islamuddin said he did not get any injection from the hospital since admission.

He said he is a landless daylabourer and has no money to buy the injection.

Another patient said he procured an injection by paying a hospital staff Tk 250.

This correspondent also saw a large number of people including women and children waiting at the hospital for blood test for Kala Azar.

Golam Rabbani, Upazila Health Officer (UHO) at the health complex admitted that there is a crisis of the injection at the hospital.

He said 63 patients were admitted to the hospital since outbreak of the disease. Of them, 52 were fully treated and 11 are under treatment.

When contacted, Netrakona Civil Surgeon(CS) Dr. Md. Siddikur Rahaman said he took office on Monday and is yet to take stock of things upazila health complexes.