Mohammadpur most cholera-prone area in Dhaka

The rate of cholera infection is more in Mohammadpur than in any other area in the capital.

Besides, the Adabor and Hazaribag areas are also susceptible to the deadly contagious disease.

A lack of pure water and an inadequacy of sewerage system are mainly responsible for the spread of cholera.

The revelations were made at a press conference organised by the Centre for Disease Control of the Directorate of Health at the Directorate's conference room yesterday. 

Dr Shahlina Ferdousi, director of the Centre for Disease Control, and Dr Firdausi Qadri, Emeritus Scientist at the ICDDR,B  presented various statistics at the event.

It was declared in the press conference that a vaccination programme aimed at curbing the outbreak of cholera and diarrhoea in the country will start today.

Vaccinations will continue for six days till February 25 in 16 wards under six police stations in Dhaka city under this programme.

Emeritus Scientist Dr Firdausi Qadri said cholera vaccines will be administered to the children above one year in 16 wards ( Wards 9,10,14, 22-25, 29-34 and 55-57)  in Mohammadpur, Hazaribag, lalbag, Kamrangirchar, Darus Salam and Adabor thanas under the campaign.

The programme is starting with six areas and it will be spread all over the country in phases.

Presenting the latest data of ICDDR,B, Dr Qadri said 4.9 percent of the diarrhoea affected patients who come to ICDDR,B's Dhaka Hospital are from Mohammadpur area, while rates are 1.3 percent from Adabor, 0.3 percent from Darus Salam, 2.1 percent from Lalbagh, 1.5 percent from Kamrangirchar, and 1.7 percent from the Hazaribag area.

The press conference was told that  cholera is a diarrhoeal disease which dehydrates the body quickly and if is not treated on time  the patient may even die.

Every year, about  13 to 40 lakh people are affected with cholera worldwide.

The press conference was informed that a ICDDR'B survey shows at present there is prevalence of cholera in the country. 

Of the diarrhoeal diseases, 20 percent carries cholera germ. Freeing the country of cholera by 2030 is yet a big challenge.

The Centre for Disease Control has collected vaccine for administering orally to 40,00,000 children through Global Task Force on Cholera Control  (GTFCC) of the WHO  and with the cooperation of the UNICEF.

These vaccines will be administered orally to children aged one year and above through two doses in one month interval.

The press conference was told the vaccines will be administered from 8am to 4pm through 360 vaccination centres including the City Corporation's vaccination centres. Some vaccination centres will be kept open till 7pm for the convenience of the working people.