Waterborne diseases spread as water recedes

The flood claimed two more lives in Sherpur and Habiganj in 24 hours till Sunday morning, raising the total fatalities to 84.

Each of them died by drowning in floodwater, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), reports UNB.

The total deaths were recorded from May 17 to June 25.

Among a total of 70 flood-affected upazilas, 33 upazilas are in Sylhet division, 16 in Rangpur division, 20 in Mymensingh division and one in Chattogram division.

Sylhet, Sunamganj, Netrakona and Kurigram are the worst-hit districts where 13, 11, 10 and 9 upazilas were affected by floods respectively.

A total of 1,944 flood shelters have been opened, while 2,051 medical teams are working to provide various health services to the flood-affected people.

Even though the flood situation in the Brahmaputra basin is improving, the plight of the flood-affected people hasn’t eased. There is still water in the low-lying areas of the district, and people can’t return to their houses because the prolonged presence of floodwater has made them unliveable.

Besides, river erosion and damaged roads have exacerbated the suffering of the people.

Abdullah Al Mamun, an Executive Engineer of Kurigram Water Development Board (WDB), said that the overall flood situation in Kurigram has improved as water in the Dharla and Brahmaputra rivers is flowing below the danger mark. Waterborne diseases are spreading in the flood-hit regions of Bangladesh as floodwater started receding, reports BSS.

“Many people are suffering from diarrhoea, skin diseases, dysentery, cholera and other waterborne diseases,” Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) sources said.

In the past 24 hours, a total of 452 people have been affected by diarrhoea in four flood hit divisions -- Sylhet, Rangpur, Chattagram and Mymensingh – while 53 people have also suffered from skin diseases, a press release issued by the DGHS said.