A host of people in Comilla are suffering from arsenicosis, with the majority contracting the disease by drinking water rich in arsenic.
According to government estimates, some 2,997 people were diagnosed with arsenic poisoning in 16 upazilas of the district till December 2014, but non-governmental organisations say the number of patients has topped 10,000.
Arsenicosis is prevalent in Monohorgonj and Laksam upazilas, and more women than men have contracted it.
Doctors say arsenicosis is a silent killer, and could lead to bronchitis, high blood pressure, kidney and liver problems, and even cancer.
Apart from the health problems, the patients were said to have suffered public humiliation, with many believing in the superstition that the disease is a sign of atonement for sin.
Seeking anonymity, a housewife in Iruain village in Laksam said she did not tell her in-laws about the disease fearing divorce.
“I had to go to my father’s house to take medical advice from doctors there,” she said.
Chief Coordinator of volunteer organisation Haldia Mahila Unnayan Sangstha, Abu Taher Rony, said many cases cannot be detected as patients usually do not seek treatment until the disease has developed into an advanced stage.
“NGO Forum, a private organisation, ran a project in a number of villages for treating arsenicosis patients but that has been discontinued,” he said.
Faruk Ahmed, a patient in Charbaria village, said he had not received any medicine since NGO Forum closed its project.
But Mir Mostak Ali, regional manager of NGO Forum, said it was not possible to offer complete medical care to all the patients due to the lack of adequate resources.
“We have worked in several villages, including Charbaria, Dumuria, Rajapur and Banglaish. Now we are operating in Meghna upazila,” he said.
Mostak said the project entails setting up arsenic-free tube wells, raising public awareness of the disease, and treatment and rehabilitation of arsenicosis patients.
Chairman of Kandirpar union, Nur Hossain, said many in the union are suffering from the disease, adding that inspection by health officials is barely adequate.
But Dr Md Salahuddin, an official of Laksam Upazila Health Complex, said there are enough stocks of medicine in his facility and patients will be supplied drugs if they come for treatment.
Comilla Civil Surgeon Dr Mujibur Rahman said arsenicosis patients should focus more on drinking arsenic-free water than taking medical treatment.
He said health workers are working to create awareness of the disease and patients are offered emergency treatment at the upazila health complexes.