Children, elderly the worst sufferers
With a cold wave sweeping through the country, the number of people -- especially children and the elderly -- falling into cold-related illnesses is rising in many districts.
A total of 4,196 patients received treatment for cold-related ailments at different government hospitals countrywide in the last 24 hours till 8am yesterday, according to the control room of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
“Many of them received treatment at outpatient departments of government hospitals, while others were admitted,” said Dr Ayesha Akther, assistant director of Health Emergency Operation Center and Control Room of the DGHS.
“Children and elderly persons are more vulnerable to cold-related illnesses,” she told The Daily Star last night.
Referring to the DGHS statistics, UNB reports that some 668 of the patients received treatment for acute respiratory infection, while another 1,639 were treated for diarrhoea, and 1,889 for other issues including jaundice, inflammation in the eye, skin diseases, and fever.
Fifty deaths were reported across the country between November 1 and December 28 due to cold-related diseases, reports UNB.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) in a weather bulletin yesterday said a mild to moderate cold wave may continue today, with prevalence of moderate to thick fog.
Night temperatures may fall slightly, and day temperature may rise slightly over the country, said the BMD forecast.
Yesterday’s minimum temperature was recorded as 7.2 degree Celsius in Dinajpur, while the maximum was in Sylhet at 25 degrees.
Our correspondents from different districts sent reports on the situation.
In Bogura, at least 20 children were admitted with pneumonia and diarrhoea, and 20-25 adult patients admitted with asthma in last two days, said Abdul Wadud, assistant director of the 1,200-bed Bogura Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital.
The district’s civil surgeon Gausul Azim Chowdhury said some 45 diarrhoea patients and five pneumonia patients were admitted to 11 upazila health complexes in the district.
In Nilphamari, dense fog disrupted communication, as the sun was not visible in the last two days.
Local met office forecast that the cold spell might continue for the next three days.
The district’s civil surgeon Ranjit Kumar Barman said some 550 people have been admitted to the district hospital and six upazila health complexes in the last seven days, with cold-related illnesses.
In Barishal, sudden rain and biting cold brought sufferings to the people in the last three days.
Road and river communications were severely hampered while many -- mostly children -- were suffering from cold -related ailments.
Dr Bakir Hossain, director of Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital (SBMCH), said the hospital has been providing treatment to 175 children daily on an average at the hospital.
“My daughter was admitted to the hospital four days ago with pneumonia. She is now undergoing treatment. Doctors said she needs to remain admitted here for one more week,” said Mansur Akther Bithi, while talking to this correspondent at SBMCH yesterday.
In Dinajpur, at least 30 children were admitted to different hospitals with cold-related complaints.
In Lalmonirhat, a total of 163 child patients -- including 125 with diarrhoea and 38 with pneumonia -- have been admitted to Lalmonirhat sadar and four other upazila hospitals in the last five days, said the district’s Civil Surgeon Dr Kashem Ali.
Meher Ali, 45, a resident of Kalmati village in Sadar upazila, said his two-year-old son Sahidul was admitted to Lalmonirhat Sadar Hospital after coming down with diarrhoea.
In Kurigram, a total of 55 patients were receiving treatment at Kurigram General Hospital yesterday, said the hospital’s resident medical officer (RMO) Dr Shahinur Rahman.
Meanwhile, Shanjeev Kumar Bhati, assistant high commissioner (Rajshahi) of India to Bangladesh, distributed blankets among 200 cold-hit people at Shree Rum-Krishna Ashram of Krishnapur (Pal Para) village under Kurigram municipality yesterday noon.
In Rajshahi, over 100 people were being admitted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital daily with cold-related health problems, said Saiful Ferdous, deputy director of the hospital. Children and elderly persons are worst victims of it, he added.
The hospital authorities formed special teams of doctors to deal with the increased number of patients, set up 30 room heaters and increased supply of medicines for cold-related illnesses, he told The Daily Star.
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