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Malaria spreading rapidly in hill district |
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News |
June 26, 2000
Khagrachhari (UNB) – In a new sign of trouble for the health administration, malaria has staged an alarming comeback in the hill district.
According to an official estimate, malaria claimed 800 lives and affected 3,65,895 people in the district in last six years.
It showed that 62 people died and 48,315 others affected by the disease last year alone.
But unofficial sources claimed that the figures of both deaths and affected people would be much higher than the government ones.
When malaria is spreading at an alarming rate, Sadar Hospital and other health complexes of the district are in short supply of medicines. The hospitals also lack in doctors and medical equipment, depriving the patients of necessary treatment.
Only 24 doctors against 87 posts are now working in the hospitals. Insiders said Manikchhari, Panchhari and Laxmichhari health complexes have one doctor each.
When contacted officials at Heath Department said there is adequate stock of medicine, including 44,000 quinine injections and 2.50 lakh tablets, in their godown and steps are underway to supply those to the hospitals.
District Civil Surgeon Dr Suvash Das said all necessary measures have been taken to eradicate malaria apart from the ongoing ‘Mosquito Killing Drive’ in the district.
He, however, admitted that the drive could not yet make any significant headway for various reasons.
Still, the malaria-prone district has one doctor for 26,470 people instead of one for 1,000 as committed by the government.
Experts said it’s unlikely that the government will be able to achieve its target ‘Health for all by 2000’ if it fails to eliminate malaria from the hill districts, which have been the spotlight of the disease for decades.
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