|
|
Change your Life! |
Tobacco workers face hazardous diseases |
|
News |
June 22, 2000
Kushtia, (UNB) – About 3,000 people including children and women working in various bidi factories in Daulatpur upazila have been suffering from tuberculosis and other chest diseases, said a survey report. Conducted by Daulatpur upazila health complex recently, the report revealed that over 30 persons including children, youths and old men fell victim to tuberculosis last month. Every day about 3/5 persons attacked with tuberculosis are coming to the health complex and later sent to Kushtia TB clinic where they are provided with better treatment facilities almost free of cost. There are a large number of bidi factories in the upazila where hundreds of people have been working for years together to maintain their livelihood. About 20,000 families in the upazila have been rendered homeless and a vast tract of cultivable land devoured during the last 15 years owing to erosion of the river Ganges. Many of them finding no other alternative have been working in those factories with poor salary. They are leading their life in sub-human condition in makeshift structures on flood protection embankment and other high lands. These people also suffer from cold related diseases in winter. According to another survey, conducted by an NGO, about 1000 children were affected by cold related diseases that claimed 10 children so far.
|