TI Mahamud, Alikadam (Bandarban)

Every year during the rainy season, the remote areas of Alikadam Upazila experience a large number of malaria outbreaks. This time it has spread widely in the whole upazila.

Specially, most of the people of Kurukpata union of the upazila are suffering from malaria. They don't have enough mosquito nets.

On June 30 (Sunday), a free medical camp and free medicines were distributed at Poyamuhuri market bordering Bangladesh Chhatra League, courtesy of Ushing Hai (Robin Bahadur), Vice President of the Central Executive Committee.
60 percent of people were diagnosed with malaria when they were tested for malaria.

Bangladesh Chhatra League Alikadam upazila branch president Jabed Hossain, general secretary Shafiqul Islam led by upazila and union Chhatra League leaders along with Alikadam Upazila Awami League organizing secretary Mustafa Zaman Rashed and Bangladesh Awami Volunteer League, Alikadam upazila branch president William Marma and upazilaTwo CHCPs from Health Complex, Uthwayhla Marma, Khairul along with participated in the free medical camp from 11.30 am to 2.00 pm.

Out of 70 RDT tests, 40 malaria patients have been identified in Durgam Poamuhuri market and they are provided medical care and anti-malaria drugs through Alikadam Upazila Health Complex. Also, medical services and medicines for various diseases including diarrhoea, fever, cough, allergy have been provided free of cost.

Similarly, 15 malaria positive patients were detected in 30 tests in Yangring neighborhood on the border. They are not getting the same amount of health care that malaria is spreading. ICDDRB is working on malaria along with BRAC and Ekta NGOs in the region but none of their workers have drugs, RDTs and could not give satisfactory answers when asked about this.

Even the far-reaching crash program of government health assistants has had zero results. Even though Yangring neighborhood is right next to the road, there is no government or NGO-provided malaria treatment here.

UHNFPO of Alikadam Upazila Health Complex Mr. Mahtab Uddin Chowdhury said that the person may be infected again after 28 days of being infected with malaria for the first time. Our and BRAC and Ekta staff are working regularly in these areas. We have sent sufficient quantity of medicines and accessories. In this regard, we had a meeting today with the NGOs working on malaria, we have prepared more vigorously.

It can be seen on the ground that many more patients have returned without medical care due to the fact that the free medical camp organizers do not have enough medicine.