Waterborne diseases spread as floodwater starts receding

Around 1,000 flood-affected families take shelter on Faridpur town flood-protection embankment at Sadipur as flooding in the district wiped out their homes. The photo was taken yesterday. Photo: STAR

Waterborne diseases are spreading in the capital and in the northern region as floodwater is receding.
A large number of roads in the central and south-central regions still remain submerged. The marginal flood victims are still suffering from lack of food and drinking water, although relief efforts by the government and non-government level are going on at many places.
Over one hundred medical teams have started Medicare for the flood-hit people in many areas in the north as water-borne dieses are spreading, BSS reports. In the capital, the number of diarrhoea patients has shot up to 600 from 400 within two days.
Floodwater of the Padma and the Arialkha is receding quickly in 18 unions of eight upazilas in Faridpur, the district flood control office sources say, reports our correspondent in Faridpur.
About 3km of Faridpur-Charvadrason road is still under knee-deep water and communication remains snapped. Around 20,000 families of Aliabad union take shelter on the town protection embankment, while four unions -- Aliabad, Northchannel, Decreerchar, and Charmadhabdia -- under Sadar upazila are still waterlogged.
Nurunnahar, 60, a flood victim of Sadipur, said, "We have not got any relief, although relief is being distributed."
Ruma Akhter, 13, a student of Sadipur High School, said, "About a month we are waterlogged and have taken shelter on the highway."
Over 93 primary schools in four flood-affected upazilas remain closed due to flood, while four others were eroded away by the surging water affecting education activities seriously, reports our correspondent from Gaibandha quoting the district primary education office.
Over ten thousand children are being deprived of education.
Local NGO Gono Unnayan Kendra with the funding of Save the Children (UK) has set up an entertainment centre at Char Chithulia in Molar Char where over 150 children gather for entertainment with different indoor and outdoor games.
Our correspondent from Sirajganj says the flood situation in Shahzadpur, Belkuchi, Kazipur and Chowhali has remained unchanged. Water-borne diseases, especially diarrhoea, pneumonia and skin infection, are breaking out rapidly in the flood-affected areas.
The patients of the diseases are increasing in different hospitals every day. Lack of food and drinking water is the main reason of the diseases, hospital sources say.
Water Development Board sources say the overall flood situations may improve after three or four days.
Sources in the district administration say they are trying to send relief to the affected people. As many as 92 medical teams are working at the field level to control the water-borne diseases, CS office sources say.
The flood situation has not improved in Munshiganj, though the water level has receded, reports our A correspondent.