Diarrhoea cases on sharp rise amid extreme heat

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Barishal Correspondent :

In the last 20 days, about 19,000 patients have received treatment in the government health care centers of the district upazila. That is, on an average, 941 patients are suffering from diarrhoea every day.
It has been found that in Barishal, Barguna, Pirojpur and Bhola, the four districts of the division where diarrhoea infection is high, the patients have to suffer for a long time to get treatment.
Among them, there is saline shortage in several upazila health complexes of Barguna district; patients in Pirojpur are unable to get treatment from the hospital due to shortage of beds. Bhola Hospital has also faced shortage of beds.
Statistician of the divisional office of the Department of Health ASM Ahsan Kabir said that 441 patients with diarrhea were admitted to the hospital in 24 hours till Saturday (April 20) night.
Among them, 37 people in Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital, 114 people in other government hospitals of Barishal district, 89 people in Bhola, 91 people in Pirojpur, 147 people in Barguna.
Within the division, the information of hospitalization of diarrhea patients in Jhalokathi and Patuakhali is not yet available. Among them, 436 have recovered and returned home. He said that from April 1 to April 20, a total of 18 thousand 837 patients with diarrhea were admitted to the hospital in four districts of Barishal division. Out of this, 6 thousand 639 people are most affected in Bhola, 5 thousand 260 people in Barisal, 3 thousand 477 people in Barguna and 3 thousand 461 people in Pirojpur. One thousand 403 patients with diarrhea have been treated in Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in these 20 days. However, about 18 thousand 253 people have been recovered and returned home.
After visiting Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital, it was seen that diarrhea patients are admitted in different floors of the medicine department. Asif, a resident of Babuganj Upazila’s Dehergoti Union, said, I came here for treatment and it seems that I got sicker. We have to live in an unhygienic environment on the hospital floor.
Bhola civil surgeon KM Shafikuzzaman said Barishal division is basically a riverine region. Due to this, the prevalence of water borne diseases is high in this region. Every year the number of patients suffering from diarrhea and pneumonia increases in Bhola. Although we have a manpower crisis, there is no saline crisis.
Dr. Pradeep Chandra Mandal said that there was a saline crisis in Betagi upazila within the district. But we solved it quickly. Hospitals are instructed to treat diarrhea patients quickly and with utmost care.
Dr. Mizanur Rahman, Civil Surgeon of Pirojpur District, said, people get dehydrated in the heat. Because of this, the prevalence of diarrhea has increased. There is no shortage of saline in Pirojpur. But the main hospital has 100 beds. That is why many patients are taking treatment on the balcony, on the floor.
Barishal Divisional Health Director Dr. Shyamal Krishna Mandal said, there is no news of any death due to diarrhea in the division so far.
Pre-preparation is basically providing adequate saline to allow patients to be treated quickly. The division currently has 17,923 pieces of IV saline in stock.
The divisional heath director said, instructions have been given to all the government hospitals for prompt treatment of diarrhea sufferers. If the number of patients increases, separate units will be arranged for treatment.