Malnutrition and lack of hygiene have resulted into an outbreak of diarrhoea in Kurigram district, affecting a large portion of the district’s child population.
Thirty-five children affected with diarrhoea reportedly got admitted to the Kurigram Sadar Hospital yesterday which has only six beds allocated for such patients.
Dr Nazrul Islam, residential medical officer of the hospital, said: “The number of diarrhoea affected patients, most of whom are children, has drastically risen. There are six beds allocated for diarrhoea affected patients, however, currently 35 patients are admitted here.”
Alongside diarrhoea, patients with different cold-related complications are flooding the outdoor section of the hospital, said the hospital authorities.
Physicians opined that most of the children suffering from diarrhoea and cold-related diseases were deprived of proper nutrition.
During a visit yesterday, this correspondent found a number of patients suffering from diarrhoea lying on the floor of the Kurigram Sadar Hospital. An on-duty nurse told that Dhaka Tribune that six children with dirrhoea got admitted to the hospital until 12noon yesterday.
In Roumari upazila of Kurigram, more than 50 children poured into the upazila sadar hospital in last two days suffering from the same disease.
Roumari Upazila Health Complex Officer Shahjahan Kabir said physicians and nurses were having a hard time in attending the flow of child patients, most of whom are aged around three.
Senior Consultant of Kurigram Sadar Hospital Children unit Dr Mokhtar Ali said: “Lack of nutrition was the central reason for the outbreak of the disease. For prevention, intake of hygienic and nutritious food is necessary.”