Outbreak of diarrhoea and cholera has been reported in various parts of the country, including the capital. According to Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque, the main reason behind such diseases is water pollution.
He has advised everyone to be aware of this situation. He also said that the country's water, air and soil must be kept clean and pollution-free in order to maintain good health.
The minister came up with the assertion while he was speaking at a function marking World Health Day at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital on Thursday.
The minister said that Dhaka holds a large amount of the country’s population. Many of them live in unhealthy environment. As a result, various ailments occur. There is also serious health risk due to adulteration of food.
Zahid Maleque said that the climate of the world is getting polluted. The biggest problem is the greenhouse effect. Air pollution caused by smoke in vehicles etc. As a result of this, the temperature of the earth is increasing. The sea water is increasing as the ice melts due to the excessive heat. Floods, tornadoes, all of these are putting human health at risk.
“Due to the impact of pollution, cancer is increasing in the country, kidney disease is increasing, and diabetes is increasing. So we have to keep the management good to prevent pollution, “said the minister.
Mentioning that Bangladesh is working on climate change under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is freeing the rivers from occupation and trying to make the rivers pollution free.
Speaking on the occasion, Md Lokman Hossain Mia, Senior Secretary, Department of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said, “Diseases are on the rise among us due to climate change and pollution.”
Director General of the Department of Health, Prof ABM Khurshid Alam said that due to rapid urbanization, traffic congestion and noise pollution in the capital the living condition has worsened. Even the level of noise pollution is such that our hearing and vision are compromised due to its effect.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Md Sharfuddin Ahmed, President of Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) Dr Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin, Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad President Prof Dr Iqbal Arslan were present among others.
The number of diarrhoea patients in the capital has been increasing over the last few weeks. International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr, b) Hospital has been admitting more than a thousand patients almost every day.
