CHT people worried over prevalence of anemia

People living in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) have been suffering from different health complexities including death risks and hindrances to physical and mental growth due to prevalence of anemia.Eighty (80) percent children aged 6 to 23 months are suffering from anemia, Jan-e-Alam, Deputy Project Director (DPD) of Integrated Community Development Project (ICDP) informed this citing a survey report conducted by Hellen Keller, an international NGO.The ICDP has introduced a special programme in CHT in order to prevent and control anemia, a serious disease creator element.A total of 46 percent teenaged girls and 39 percent women aged up to 49 years are experiencing this evil element of disease in the three hill districts of Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban, the DPD added.49 percent pregnant women living in the hilly region are also victims of the disease, he mentioned quoting the survey report.Although anemia itself is not a disease but it causes disease, Dr. Saiful Islam, Residential Medial Officer (RMO) of Rangamati General Hospital said adding, it hinders physical and mental growth of children and adolescents as well as abates resistance power in human body.Excessive anemia during pregnancy period increases death risk of both mothers and babies in the womb, the RMO said.The programme is being implemented preliminarily in 933 Para centres of ICDP in nine Upazilas under the three hill districts by providing iron tablet, vermicide tablet and iron powder. All the upazilas will be brought gradually under the programme, officials said.Besides, necessary advice such as taking food, which have plenty of iron and vitamin, are being disseminated among the villagers through Para workers and adolescent girl leaders to attain the goal of the programme.Meanwhile, two activists - one para worker and one adolescent girl leader from every centre of 933 were imparted training on the topic to make the programme a success.The nine upazilas, where the programme is running, are Rangamati sadar, Rajasthali and Baghaichhari of Rangamati district, Khagrachhari sadar, Matiranga and Lokkichhari under Khagrachhari district and Roangchhari, Niakkongchhari and Lama Upazila under Bandarban hill district as well as about 1.50 lakh people of 28,000 families in those upazilas are getting the service funded by UNICEF.Apart from the advice of taking vitamin-enriched food, the authority is advising the people to control diarrhea and malaria in order to remain aloof from anemia.The ICDP under Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board, a major development agency of the area established in 1976, implements different programmes of Tk 180 crore to develop health condition of mothers and children living in the hilly region.

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