Malaria kills 167 in Khagrachhari in last 4 years
Roundtable told
Malaria killed at least 167 people and attacked 55984 in eight upazilas of Khagrachhari hill district in the last four years.
It was revealed at a roundtable discussion jointly organised by civil surgeon's office, Khagrachhari press club and non-government organisation Brac.
Held at the conference hall of Khagrachhari Hill District Council (KHDC) it was chaired by civil surgeon Dr Udoy Shankor Chakma while acting KHDC chairman Kujendra Lal Tripura attended as chief guest.
Speakers said the actual figure of malarial death or attack might be two to three times higher as the figure has been compiled from various sources.
They said, number of death and infection has declined in the recent years as Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) in collaboration with the Health Department started awareness campaign from early 2007 in Khagrachhari.
The international organisation is carrying out the programme through various activities to control malaria in the hill district.
Citing example they said only one person was killed and 2738 were affected in the last four months of the current year while 12 killed and 15811 affected in 2009, 55 killed and 19673 affected in 2008 and 99 killed and 17762 affected in 2007.
Several organisations are working to control malaria in the hill district in collaboration with government including 14 NGOs led by Brac.
They have distributed 1,94,448 long lasting mosquitoes net (LLMN) besides blood tests, supplying medicines and arranging awareness campaign, the speakers said.
Among others, Deputy Commissioner Anis-Ul-Haque Bhuiyan, Chief Executive Officer Tarun Kanti Gosh, KHDC member Bir Kishore Chakma, Khagrachhari press club president Zizen Barua, its secretary Azim ul Haq, Brac district manager Rupok Chakma and Brac Sadar upazila manager Fazlul Haque addressed the roundtable.
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