Leak in water supply lines to blame
There are leaks in many places, and some people connect their household line with Wasa's main line and pump out water. These connections create leaks, and bacteria enter through them.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has requested city dwellers to clean their household reservoirs regularly to prevent the spread of bacteria responsible for cholera and diarrhoea.
She made the request at a cabinet meeting, where the recent outbreak of cholera was discussed at length, said Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam at a press briefing after the meeting.
The PM chaired the regular cabinet meeting at her office yesterday.
The secretary said leaks in water supply lines, caused by haphazard household connections, are the main reason for the outbreak of diarrhoeal diseases in the capital.
The government will begin a cholera vaccine campaign tentatively from May 10.
Saying that measures have been taken, Anwarul said, "The WHO is giving us 7.5 million cholera vaccines. Two doses of vaccine will give safety against cholera for about three years."
"We haven't seen such an outbreak of diarrhoea in the last 20 to 25 years," said the secretary, adding that he has been tracking the situation for the last 10 days and talked to icddr,b, IEDCR, Directorate General of Health Services and Wasa.
No bacteria have been found in Wasa's water source.
"There are leaks in many places, and some people connect their household line with Wasa's main line and pump out water. These connections create leaks, and bacteria enter through them," said Anwarul.
Experts found a shortage of chlorine in the water of some areas, which saw a rise of such disease. "After pointing it out, Wasa increased the amount of chlorine in the respective areas," he said.
Germs of waterborne diseases are also found in migrant workers who stay at hotels near the airport before departure.
"We have been informed by Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar that germs of waterborne disease are found among migrants. There is no existence of bacteria in tube-well water in the villages. They are infected while staying at hotels near the airport," he said.
Instructions have been given to Wasa to run campaigns and drives at hotels near the airport area.
The number of diarrhoea patients surpassed the 1,000-mark in a 24-hour period on March 16, for the first time in icddr,b's 60-year journey.
Meanwhile, the cabinet, in principle, approved the drafts of Sheikh Hasina Rural Development Academy, Jamalpur Act, 2022 and Rural Development Academy, Rangpur Act, 2022.
The government will establish two more rural development academies in Jamalpur and Rangpur districts, aiming to make the private sector, especially small and medium enterprises, Anwarul said.
The cabinet also approved the draft of National Voluntary Policy-2022.
The secretary said the policy has been brought in line with sections 16 and 59 of the constitution, perspective plan, sustainable development goals, five-year plans and the directives of tackling Covid-19.
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