Experts call for emergency health response team for flood-hit areas

The flood-affected districts of Feni, Noakhali, and Lakshmipur are experiencing a severe outbreak of diarrhoea and other waterborne diseases, experts said today (4 September).

Experts at an event titled "Post-Flood Health Challenges: Multi-Stakeholder Review of Field Realities and Action Priorities," called for the formation of an Emergency Health Response Team to coordinate efforts and quickly provide necessary resources.

At the event, organised by BRAC and the UHC Forum at the Brac Centre Auditorium in Dhaka, they noted that health complexes in flood-hit areas are facing acute shortages of essential medical supplies, including oral rehydration solutions, intravenous fluids for cholera patients, and antibiotics specific to diarrhoea.

Professor Dr MA Faiz, former director general of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), said, "Among the many problems created by floods, the most serious is dealing with waterborne and mosquito-borne diseases. Additionally, the number of snakebite cases may increase."

He added, "Floodwater is not safe. During such times, there is a shortage of clean water, leading to an outbreak of waterborne diseases. The Ministry of Health and the Directorate General of Health Services need to take swift action before the health system in these areas collapses."

Dr Faiz underscored the need for the Emergency Health Response Team to coordinate the provision of essential services. He also stressed prioritising access to safe drinking water, proper wastewater disposal, and solid waste management.

"Post-trauma infections, such as those involving the skin, soft tissues, and gastrointestinal tract, will lead to rapid dehydration, and children are particularly vulnerable," he warned.

Dr Ahammad Kabir, civil surgeon of Lakshmipur, reported a surge in diarrhoea and skin disease cases in hospitals, with medical staff struggling to cope.

"Currently, we have 2,000 diarrhoea patients admitted. We have informed higher authorities about the overall situation. If they supply saline and medicines within two to three days, the crisis will be resolved," he said.

Cumilla Civil Surgeon Nasima Akhtar added, "The devastating floods in Cumilla have led to an outbreak of various diseases, including diarrhoea, eye infections, and skin diseases."

Major General Jahangir Alam, area commander of Cumilla and GOC of the 33rd Infantry Division, stressed the need to create a database of pregnant women in crisis-hit areas and deploy teams equipped with boats and doctors to reach them.

He further underscored the importance of keeping upazila health centres in the flood-affected areas functional, with a constant presence of doctors.

BRAC Chairperson and Convener of the UHC Forum, Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman, called for the swift activation of local government and health administrations to address the crisis effectively.

"The local health administration must also be given an environment to work fearlessly. Overall, we need to pay attention to mental health," he said.

Dr Shayla Islam, associate director of the BRAC Health Programme, outlined the broader impact of the recent flash floods, which have severely affected over 5.8 million people across 11 districts in Bangladesh, with 71 reported deaths as of 3 September.

BRAC Executive Director Asif Saleh was also present at the event.