Feni district is facing a surge in waterborne diseases, with numerous cases of diarrhea, dysentery, stomach pain, fever, and skin infections—particularly among children after the devastated flood.
The sudden influx of patients has put immense pressure on the local healthcare system, leading to a severe shortage of hospital beds. At Feni Sadar Hospital, the overcrowding has forced patients to lie on verandas and even on stairs.
In response to the crisis, Feni Deputy Commissioner Shahina Akhter announced that 14 health camps have been set up across the district to provide medical aid to those affected by the floods.
A visit to the 250-bed Feni General Hospital on Saturday at 2 PM highlighted the severity of the situation. The hospital's diarrhea ward, which only has 18 beds, was accommodating eight times its capacity. By Saturday, the hospital had recorded 297 cases of waterborne illnesses, including 114 children and 183 adults.
Dr. Asif Iqbal, the hospital's Resident Medical Officer, stated, "Post-flood diarrhea cases are escalating, particularly among children, likely due to contaminated water and food. We have arranged additional floor beds to manage the overflow of patients," reports UNB.
Laila Akhter, a resident of Matiganj Upazila, brought her 11-year-old daughter to the hospital after she fell ill from consuming tank-stored water following the flood. "Water entered our home, and we sought refuge at a neighbor's house. Unfortunately, my daughter started vomiting and developed diarrhea afterward," she recounted.
Kamrun Nahar, who has been at the hospital since Thursday with her 2-year-old son, shared that her child contracted a waterborne disease despite her careful efforts to boil water before use.
Dr. Arnab Mallik, a Medical Officer at the hospital, added, "We are doing everything we can to accommodate all patients, but the situation is overwhelming for both doctors and nurses given our limited resources."
Civil Surgeon Dr. Shihab Uddin assured the public that hospitals would continue to provide free treatment to flood victims until further notice. Additionally, a special team of 30 doctors has been dispatched to Feni to bolster local healthcare efforts.
