Editorial
Widespread outbreak of diseases in affected areas
Counter-measures are imperative
Diseases like diarrhoea, pneumonia, fever and typhoid persist in the areas hit by the recent devastating cyclone.
With the advent of the cold weather and lack of availability of safe drinking water diseases like pneumonia and diarrhoea are about to reach an epidemic proportion. Particularly infants are dying in droves. Diarrhoea and other diseases of the stomach are caused due to use of water from ponds and other water bodies highly contaminated by carcasses of domestic animals. About 1500 tubewells are functioning as against 18000 in the affected localities. The answer lies in distribution of water purification tablets and having bottled water distributed.
Medical teams are out to tackle the gigantic task of providing emergency medical services like the visiting team from USA, the army medical team and the Japan Bangladesh Hospital including a number of medical teams formed at district levels by concerned Civil Surgeons. They have started making a dent. Since these are common occurrences at times like these why don't we have a medical preparedness strategy to be put in place on a shorter notice. We waited for the cyclone to happen and then get a move on.
On the other hand, it is our impression that there could be a greater response on the part of hospitals and clinics in the private sector. Surely they not only have the 'capacity and the spare resources' but they are also quite capable of mustering the manpower needed.
No one can bring the dead back but surely we must do our best to provide medical services to the survivors who are sick. Let no one die of such ailments that are simple and easy to manage nowadays.
Let more medical teams be fielded to less accessible areas like Barguna in Barisal and elsewhere. Here it is of utmost importance to also remember the urgency of it all.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments