Diarrhoea situation in Ishwardi EPZ yet to improve
Ishwardi (Pabna) Correspondent :
An investigation committee has been formed into the deterioration of diarrhea situation in Ishwardi Export Processing Zone (EPZ) and the death of a female worker.
This was instructed to the Civil Surgeon of Pabna on Monday afternoon in a letter signed by Professor Dr. Tahmina Shirin, Director of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR).
The investigation committee has been instructed to visit, inspect and investigate the relevant diarrhea areas.
The six-member committee has appointed AHM Mostafa Kamal, a doctor from the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research, as the team leader.
Other members include Technical Officer Sharif Uddin Hasnat, Medical Officer of Chandpur Uttar Matlab Shatnal Union Sub-Health Center Fahmida Faiza, Assistant Surgeon of Khagrachhari Chengi Rajesh Dev, Medical Technologist of IEDCR Sohel Rana and Lab Attendant Sajibul Islam.
Ishwardi Upazila Health Family Planning Officer Dr. Ali Ehsan and EPZ Executive Director Shahidul Islam admitted the truth of the matter and said that the investigation work has started since Monday afternoon. The committee first visited the Ishwardi EPZ area.
The diarrhea situation that started on May 29 has not improved even after six days. Diarrhea has taken the form of an epidemic in Ishwardi EPZ.
More than a thousand workers have been affected. Meanwhile, Sumita Khatun (23), who was working as a swing operator in the company, died at 9 am on Tuesday (May 3). Her body is in the Piarakhali area of the Bori Municipality. A worker named Kona Khatun (25) from Tilakpur village of Sahapur Union died at 1 am on Monday.
Kona was an employee of the quality cutting section of the IHM company of the EPZ.On Tuesday (May 3), 23 patients were admitted to Ishwardi Hospital.
And 52 received treatment at the EPZ Medical Center. The total number of admissions to Ishwardi Hospital as of Tuesday afternoon is 316. In addition, 782 diarrhea patients have received treatment at the EPZ Medical Center since May 29.
Apart from Ishwardi Health Complex, workers of Ishwardi EPZ suffering from diarrhea have also been admitted to the neighboring Lalpur and Atgharia Health Complexes.
These hospitals are admitting 2-3 times more patients than their capacity. Severely affected patients are admitted to Pabna General Hospital and Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.
Many others are initially receiving treatment at home on the advice of local doctors. When their condition worsens, they come to the hospital and get admitted.