Diarrhea takes epidemic form in Ishwardi EPZ

Ishwardi (Pabna) Correspondent :

Diarrhea has taken the form of an epidemic in Ishwardi Export Processing Zone (EPZ). About five hundred workers of several companies including Renaissance, Nakano, Aba and Rahim Afroz, ISA, Steel Hair, Oscar Bangla have fallen ill after drinking water from the EPZ.

The sick workers are undergoing treatment at the EPZ Medical Center and Ishwardi Upazila Health ComCex. Some of the seriously ill have been sent to Rajshahi and Pabna. In addition, many with less serious conditions have received medical care from private doctors.

As there is no space for a large number of patients in Ishwardi Hospital, patients are receiving treatment in the verandah, corridors and staircases. The limited number of doctors and nurses in the hospital is struggling to treat a large number of patients.

The workers say that drinking the water supplied to the EPZ has created a terrible situation. However, the EPZ authorities are reluctant to admit that they are suffering from diarrhea due to the water. However, it is reported that the water has been sent for testing.

Since last Thursday (May 29), workers at the EPZ started falling ill one by one after eating lunch with stomach aches, diarrhea, fever, vomiting and headaches.

Although some workers immediately took leave, hundreds of workers came to Ishwardi Hospital and the EPZ Medical Center for treatment of stomach and diarrhea-related problems from midnight on Friday and Saturday afternoon until the time of writing this report.