Diarrhoea, pneumonia trail floods in Sirajganj

Diarrhoea patients on the floor of Sirajganj Sadar Hospital. The photo was taken yesterday. PHOTO: STAR

The diseases claimed seven lives and affected over 1000 people in last five days. Most of the pneumonia victims are infants.

Those died of diarrhoea include Nasimuddin, 56, of Bankai village in Raiganj upazila; Gaher Ali, 60 of Nishchintapur village and Bakiullah, 6, of Chargiresh village in Kazipur upazila and Omesha Khatun, 2, of Belkuchi, according to sources at the Civil Surgeon's office. Rhidoy, 22 days, son of Azahar Ali of Bengnai village in Raiganj and Hurmoti, 2 of Gudhibari village in Shahzadpur upazila died of pneumonia.

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While visiting different hospitals, including Raiganj and Kazipur health complexes and Sirajganj Sadar Hospital yesterday, this correspondent saw diarroea and pneumonia patients, most of them children, lying on floors due to lack of beds.

Some patients were seen going to private hospitals, failing to get beds at the Sadar Hospital.

Talking to the patients, it was gathered that children in large numbers were being attacked with pneumonia in remote areas in Raiganj, Tarash, Kazipur, Chowhali, Shahzadpur, Ullapara, Belkuchi, Kamarkhanda and Sadar upazilas due to cold from the recent downpour.

Most of the patients said alleged that there was scarcity of medicine and saline at hospitals. Most of the them said they have to procure medicines from outside.

Sources claimed that the unofficial number of affected people would be much more because many patients are taking treatment in the private clinics and at homes.

When contacted Sirajganj Civil Surgeon Mizanur Rahman said 82 medical teams are working in the 82 unions in the district.

He however said the rate of attack this year is not more than in previous years. Most patients come to hospital when their condition turns critical, when treatment becomes difficult, he said. This is due to lack of awareness, he said.