Fresh multi-million-dollar nutrition project soon

March 28, 2000

The government is contemplating launching a multi-million dollar new nutrition programme similar to one now in progress and acclaimed as a model "path breaking" programme by international experts.

The existing Bangladesh Integrated Nutrition Project (BINP) will continue till December 2001. The new project, titled the "National Nutrition Programme (NNP)", a four-year scheme-involving over Taka 6,00 crore or us 124 million dollars, is expected to be approved soon by the authorities concerned, official sources said yesterday.

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TB kills one in every 10 minutes in Bangladesh

March 25, 2000

The tuberculosis or what it is popularly known as TB kills 60.000 people every year or one in every ten minutes in Bangladesh as the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) said the country is the worst victim of the disease in Southeast Asia, says BSS.

"Controlling TB is a priority for Bangladesh and for the world", the UNICEF said in a statement as the country today joined the international community in observing the World Tuberculosis (TB) day.  

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Adulteration of food, other items -- 1

No application of penalty provision anywhere 

March 24, 2000

The adulteration of food and other items will cease to stop unless the existing laws are made deterrent and the concerned organizations are activated against them, said sources.

There is, however, death penalty provision under the Special Powers Act against adulteration of food items. Whether this was exercised is not known, they said.

Informed sources said three organizations are particularly responsible for acting (according to law) against adulteration of food and other items and their sales. But none of them has been found performing (what is expected of them) for last one decade, it is alleged. As a result, adulterated goods have flooded markets, big or small, even in the remote areas, making it impossible for a buyer to choose which one is pure and which is not.

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Where docs don’t want to go

March 14, 2000

Over 500 district hospital and thana health complex positions have been vacant for year, since the doctors assigned to them refused to go, arranging alternative “posts” in Dhaka.

“Many doctors posted to hospitals outside the capital use connections inside the Bangladesh Medical Association or influential telephone calls to cancel postings,” said a healthy ministry official, who requested anonymity.

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70 lakh people suffer from asthma
March 13, 2000

Only 10 percent of asthma patients in the country get proper treatment.

Asthma Association and the Chest and Heart Association of Bangladesh revealed this in a countrywide study recently.

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City children have very high levels of load, cadmium
March 12, 2000

Children residing in the capital city have very high lead and cadmium levels in their blood, which is much higher than the recommendation set by the World Health Organization (WHO) in this regard.

This was revealed in a collaborative study between International Center for Diarrhoeal Disease Research; Bangladesh (ICDDRB) and Karnolinska Institute, Sweden.

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Health and Population Sector Program goes too slow
March 10, 2000

The health and family welfare ministry has taken a number of Initiatives to accelerate implementation of the new health program and improve healthcare delivery system.

In an Interview on Sunday, Health and Family Welfare Minister Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selirn who took office In January, said, "The 3. 2 billion dollar five-year Health and Population Sector Program (HPSP) did not make progress as expected. Many of the plans did not even take off due to their massive size. Adoption of new strategy is expected to bring efficiency in the health sector."

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Arsenic can cause cancer in skin, limbs, liver
March 7, 2000

Ayasha Begum’s belief regarding safe water, what she had been taught over the year, turned wrong when a group of development workers in April last year red-marked their only tube-well and suggested not to drink its water anymore because it contained toxic “Arsenic”.

Arsenic, a chemical element that is commonly found in the rocks can easily go into subsoil water in diluted from. People may fall victim of the toxic chemical as it cannot be seen, tasted or smelled when it is in water. Presence of Arsenic other than the permissible level of 50 parts Per Billion (PPB) in the human immune system can damage liver, kidneys and lungs. In the sever cades, it can cause cancer in the skin and limbs.

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Urban air pollution: Economic value of health costs $240m per year
March 7, 2000

Economic value of health costs incurred from urban air pollution in Bangladesh is between 60 and 240 million US dollars per year, says UNB.

World Bank Country Director Frederick Temple gave the estimate at a global workshop in Dhaka on Sunday on the problem of air pollution.

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United Insurance launches health scheme for corporate houses
March 6, 2000

The United Insurance Company has launched a new health insurance product for corporate employees.

The new product titled ‘Health Plan’ has been designed on the concept of group health insurance schemes to be sponsored by companies.

“Under this scheme, employees’ treatment expenses in a hospital for illness or injury are insured, “said United Insurance General Manager Tanveer Imam speaking before a group of businessmen on the eve of the product launching.

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New way to measure blood sugar
March 4, 2000

Hershey. Pa, Mar 3: Diabetics who must measure their blood sugar levels with needle injections may soon have a pain-free alternative in the form of a hand-held ultrasound machine, a medical expert said on Thursday, reports Reuters. 

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