Experts and stakeholders suggested taking precise plans to address the post-flood situation as waterborne diseases started spreading across the affected region after water began receding in some parts.
Waterborne diseases like diarrhea, skin diseases, and soft tissue infections, as well as diseases caused by rats and mosquitoes, have started spreading as 90 per cent of people in Feni, Noakhali, and Comilla were affected by the floodwaters, said experts monitoring the unprecedented flood that devastated the region.
The remarks came during a dialogue organised by the UHC Forum, a coalition of multi-skilled professionals dedicated to advancing Universal Health Coverage, together with BRAC, titled "Post-Flood Health Challenges: Multi-Stakeholder Review of Field Realities and Action Priorities," held on Wednesday in Dhaka city.
Hossain Zillur Rahman, Convener of the UHC Forum, moderated the event where a number of stakeholders, district civil surgeons, armed forces officials, and doctors shared their first-hand experiences with suggestions to address the floods that are unusual to the region.
The dialogue was arranged to review the current situation on the ground and collaboratively determine key priorities for action.
With the immediate crises of hunger and displacement beginning to stabilize, emerging health concerns must be addressed, participants said.
“Crisis of safe water for drinking and use and sanitation has hit the region hard. Flood water is always contaminated, not even safe for external use,” said Prof Dr M A Faiz, former DG of DGHS, at the discussion.
He also suggested raising awareness among people on how to reuse their houses, household furniture, and other goods after the flood, as diseases and fungal infections can spread from these items.
He also advocated draining the floodwater to ensure safe water, while waste disposal and safe management are crucial for flood-affected areas to prevent the spread of post-flood diseases.
Meanwhile, since the flood hit the region on August 20 until September 3, there have been at least 471 incidents of snakebites.
Dr Fiaz, a snake specialist and researcher, also said that there is still no diagnosis of snakebites available in the country. Furthermore, Upazila hospitals don’t have efficient arrangements to deal with snakebite patients.
“Therefore, we have to depend only on the history of the patient and observation to determine snakebite injuries,” he added.
Experts participating in the discussion also suggested increasing the number of field hospitals to deal with the large number of people affected during the floods.
DrTasmiah Selim, Senior Manager of Communicable Diseases at Brac Health Programme, shared details of the flood situation and the actions they took to support flood victims.
The recent flash floods have severely impacted over 5.8 million people spread across 11 districts in the eastern region of the country. A total of 71 people have died in the ongoing flash flood.
More than 1 million people have been cut off by the flooding since it hit. As of 1 September, 31 sub-districts in Feni, Comilla, Noakhali, Lakshmipur, Chattogram, and Chandpur are still inundated.
Relief distribution is still encountering challenges in 45 villages due to the submersion of rural roads.
A total of 296,852 hectares of crops have been reported affected by the flood. Also, the loss of fisheries is estimated at USD 122 million, and livestock loss is USD 34 million, as of 31 August 2024, according to Dr Tasmiah's presentation.
