Bangladesh has achieved its target for reducing deaths from malaria much ahead of time, experts told a roundtable here on Sunday.
They said the country by 2012 successfully reduced deaths from malaria by 60 percent, a target it had originally set to achieve by 2015.
Well-coordinated efforts of the government, NGOs and the media helped the country achieve the success, the speakers said.
The National Malaria Control Programme, Directorate General of Health Services, daily Samakal and non-government organisation Brac organised the event, titled ‘National Malaria Control Programme: Present situation and future work plan’ at Brac Centre.
Health experts at the programme said currently more than 1.5 crore people of 13 districts in the country are in the risk of being infected by malaria.
According to 2012 statistics, 29518 patients were affected with the disease of whom 11 died. Of the districts in risk, Cox’s Bazar and the three hill districts, Khagrachhari, Rangamati and Bandarban are the most affected.
Speakers pointed out that want of trained doctors and nurses in the Chittagong Hill Tracts is a major challenge in fighting the disease.
Health and Family Welfare Secretary MM Neazuddin, who was present at the event as the chief guest, criticised the tendency of many doctors to live in cities.
The problem is not only of the hilly districts, but of allover Bangladesh, he said, adding, “I get so many requests for transfer that sometimes I switch off my cell phone.”
Source: UNBConnect
