Heat-related diseases on the rise
City Correspondent
The prolonged spell of unbearable heat has resulted in an outbreak of diarrhoea, heat stroke, dehydration, heat allergy, stomach-ache, viral fever and other diseases which are affecting mostly children and the aged.Dhaka Shishu Hospital has a capacity of 400 beds, all of which have been filled up and new patients are arriving everyday. "We are dealing with new patients continuously. Diarrhoea, pneumonia and skin-rash are the most common diseases the children are suffering from," said Ummey Nazneen Zakia, the on-duty emergency medical officer of Shishu Hospital. The hospital is unable to accommodate the growing number of patients. Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH)'s emergency section doctor Mostak said that the present rate of arriving patients were three times more than in normal times. Most are coming with diarrhoea and stomach related problems. The severe heat wave has continued for the last three weeks. Residents in many parts of the city are not getting sufficient water supply. In some areas, the water is dirty and even stinky. Apart from drinking, household chores have also become difficult. "For the last two to three days, no one in my family could take a bath. The quality of water is so poor that we get stomach-ache after drinking it. On the other hand, rashes and spots come out on the skin after taking bath with that water," said Rahmatullah of Mirpur. In offices, a good number of employees are on sick leave. "Colds, headaches and fever are the most common complaints," said Ahmed Sharif who works at the Sena Kalyan Bhaban in Motijheel. Many people are experiencing stomach troubles after taking food from cheap and street-side eateries. Although the juice sellers are enjoying brisk business, the ice they are using to cool the drink is often brought from dubious sources. Health experts believe that ice has every chance of carrying germs and can cause serious food poisoning. The majority of the sick are poor people who do not have access to clean and pure water and food. To quench thirst and to avoid dehydration, they take liquid which are not safe to drink. The heat spell meanwhile looks set to make people suffer for a few weeks more. Meteorologists said that as we are still in the pre-monsoon stage, the weather won't become cooler until the monsoon rains arrive.
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