The health authorities have deployed 88 medical teams across Cox’s Bazar to prevent outbreaks of diarrhoea, cholera and other waterborne diseases after days of torrential rain, flooding, waterlogging and landslides left 31 people dead and 42 others injured.
The information was disclosed in a press release issued by the Cox’s Bazar Civil Surgeon’s Office on Sunday.
According to the release, the district witnessed widespread flooding, waterlogging, landslides and drowning incidents between July 6 and July 10 following nine consecutive days of heavy rainfall.
To respond to the disaster, the health department has formed and deployed 88 medical teams, including 16 at the upazila level and 72 at the union level, to provide medical services in the affected areas. The teams are treating injured people, referring critical patients for advanced care and conducting follow-up services.
The department has also strengthened disease surveillance and public awareness campaigns to prevent possible outbreaks of waterborne and communicable diseases.
According to the health department, local health facilities currently have 285,000 packets of oral rehydration salts (ORS), 8,890 bags of cholera saline, 155,170 zinc tablets, 2.4 million water purification tablets, 15,333 bags of normal saline, 11,000 bags of dextrose normal saline (DNS), 11,568 bags of Hartsol solution, 211,550 metronidazole tablets, 15,500 ciprof
However, the department said demand for ORS, cholera saline, zinc tablets and other essential medicines was expected to rise as cases of diarrhoea, cholera, skin diseases and other waterborne illnesses could increase in the aftermath of the floods. It has therefore sought additional allocations from the Disease Control Branch of the Directorate General of Health Services to ensure an adequate supply.
The health department is also continuing to distribute water purification tablets in flood-affected areas while intensifying public awareness campaigns on drinking safe water, washing hands with soap, maintaining proper sanitation and consuming safe food.
Cox’s Bazar Civil Surgeon Dr Mohammad Chaber urged residents to avoid staying unnecessarily in landslide-prone hilly areas, prevent children from entering floodwaters, drink safe water, and seek immediate treatment at the nearest government health facility if symptoms of diarrhoea or any other illness develop.
Cox’s Bazar Report
Photo: Courtesy
