Substantial decrease of waterborne diseases in rural areas

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RANGPUR, April 21, 2018 (BSS) – The recurrence of waterborne diseases
decreased substantially in rural areas of the district following successful
implementation of various effective programmes taken by the government.

The massive awareness building activities being conducted by the
government during the past nine years have improved health, hygiene,
sanitation and nutrition conditions of the rural people who are also drinking
safe drinking water to achieve the success.

“As a result of growing public awareness about waterborne diseases,
recurrence of diarrhoea, cholera, dysentery, hookworm and ringworm among the
rural people has reduced to almost zero level,” said Civil Surgeon Dr Abu Md
Zakirul Islam.

At the same time, the infant, child and maternal mortality rates have also
reduced to the minimum everywhere in rural areas of the district.

“The government and non-government health officials and workers, Community
Clinics and Union Health Sub-Centres are playing the key roles along with the
efforts of different other government organisations, WHO and UNICEF,” Dr
Islam said.

Former Community Medicine Specialist Dr Fazlul Haque at Rangpur Medical
College said only two food poisoning related diarrhoea patients came to his
chamber last year though their number was 20 to 30 times higher even a decade
ago. “The common people in rural areas are now much aware of their health,
hygiene, sanitation, personal hygiene, safe drinking water and they do not
use the open places as toilets as it was in the pasts,” he said.

Assistant Professor of Rangpur Medical College Dr Hamidul Islam said that
waterborne disease-related child and maternal mortalities would touch zero
level in near future following important roles being played by Community
Clinics at the grassroots levels.

“However, few incidents of waterborne diseases are being noticed following
consumption of the rotten, old and unhygienic foodstuffs from a section of
roadside hotels, restaurants and open tea stalls,” Dr Hamidul Islam said.

Talking to BSS, Chairman of Haridebpur union under Sadar upazila Iqbal
Hossain said the number of waterborne disease-related child and maternal
deaths substantially reduced in his union where the number was alarming even
a decade ago.

“The union is now almost free from waterborne diseases and the success has
been achieved following hectic government and NGO efforts in motivating the
rural people for better life with the help of field level health workers and
community leaders,” he added.

Housewives Joytsna Rani, Jamuna Rani of village Gangadas Baraipara, Kakoli
Begum of village Najirdigar under Sadar upazila said waterborne diseases
disappeared since they started using sanitary latrines and drinking safe and
pure water.

Rangpur Divisional Commissioner Kazi Hasan Ahmed said, “The waterborne
diseases are disappearing fast improving all health and hygienic indexes of
the rural people as the country is moving successfully to become a middle
income nation soon.”