CHT region still malaria-prone
Speakers tell advocacy meet
All concerned should work sincerely to make Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) region fully free from malaria, Rangamati Hill District Council Chairman Brihisho Ketu Chakma said at an advocacy meeting on malaria prevention and control in CHT yesterday.
“Three CHT districts still remain a malaria-prone area and the condition of Rangamati is the worst. Every person of the health department starting from the upazila level has to work hard for prevention and cure of malaria,” he said at the programme held at Rangamati Cultural Institute conference room.
“The health assistants of the health department sometimes neglect their duty under the pretext of problems in the remote areas. But they should work in all circumstances,” he added.
The programme was organised under National Malaria Elimination Programme of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare with cooperation from The Global Fund.
Many areas of CHT region saw serious malaria outbreak even ten years ago but the number of deaths from the disease has significantly reduced due to awareness programmes and preventive measures by several organisations including Brac and the health department, speakers said.
There is no report of malarial death in Rangamati during the last few months this year. In last year one person died of malaria in the hill district.
MM Akhtaruzzaman presented the main article at the programme.
Captain Dr Sonia Chakraborti, medical officer of Combined Military Hospital, Rangamati, Sneho Kanti Chakma, president of Bangladesh Medical Association's Rangamati unit, and Ruhul Amin Siddiki, additional superintendent of police of Rangamati, spoke at the programme presided over by Shahid Talukder, civil surgeon of Rangamti.