The government is worried about the recent spike in cholera cases across the country as this disease is not very familiar in a developing country like Bangladesh.
The cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina discussed the issue intensively on Thursday.
Seeking anonymity, a minister who was in the meeting told Dhaka Tribune that the recent spike in cholera was a matter of disgrace for the countrymen.
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“Some African countries like Ethiopia and Nigeria can get cholera vaccine from the World Health Organization (WHO), but now we have to take the jabs from them too,” he added.
That minister also hinted that the cholera vaccine inoculation in Dhaka would start in the second week of May. Almost two million people would get the vaccine in the first phase, he added.
Dhaka has been experiencing an unexpected upsurge of the diarrhoeal disease since mid-March, although the number of cases is going down now.
The recent spike of cholera in the capital has crossed the highest record compared to the last 20 to 25 years. Previously, it was seen in some coastal areas of the Barisal region.
After the meeting, Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam said that, beyond the schedule, the Cabinet also discussed the issues of recent diarrhoea in Dhaka and flash-flood in the haor basin.
He also said that Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) conducted tests in different areas but it did not find any bacteria at the source of its water, reports BSS.
"People are frequently taking connections by perforating the main supply pipes of Wasa, which is the reason for bacteria intrusion in water.
“Experts have found chlorine shortage in water in the main areas and it is also another main reason. However, Wasa has taken necessary measures to solve the problems,” he added.
WHO to provide 7.5m cholera vaccines
The cabinet secretary added that the government would get 7.5 million cholera vaccines from the UN health organization.
“If people receive two doses of the vaccine, they will remain safe for three years,” he said.
Anwarul mentioned that the prime minister had requested everyone to clean their water tanks regularly to prevent any water-related disease.
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"We are also telling the PID (Press Information Department) to launch a massive campaign from now on about cleaning the water tanks.
"If these reservoirs are not cleaned every three to six months, bacteria will develop. This is also an important factor behind the spike in cholera," he said, quoting the premier.
About the flood in haors, Anwarul said that around 70% of paddy had already been harvested in those areas. “If there is no more rain, the remaining paddy can be harvested easily.”
