Fever Epidemic in Bangladesh
Free access to necessary treatment for infected people is made possible through Cap Anamur's cooperation with local hospitals.
Dengue fever epidemic in Bangladesh
At first glance, one might have thought that Bangladesh had been hit by a wave of influenza. An unusually large number of people complained of headaches and aching limbs, had a fever and in some cases chills. Then came the rash. Small red dots spread all over the body. Not a flu, but a fever epidemic. The dengue fever virus is transmitted by the bite of a mosquito and is common in tropical and subtropical areas. Bangladesh was hit particularly hard this year.
Almost 100,000 people affected
Nearly 100,000 people suffered from the tropical fever. In most of those affected, the symptoms subsided completely on their own after a few days. But one in 15 did not get rid of the disease so easily. The fever continued, the chills got worse, and in some cases even hair loss and uncontrolled bleeding set in. Especially children and elderly people with weak immune systems were affected.
The risks are high population density, enormous poverty
More than twice as many people as in Germany live in Bangladesh, a country about half its size. In addition to having such a much higher population density, Bangladesh has a weak economy and a strict government. Poverty is enormous. The fee-based health care system is therefore open to only part of the population.
Cap Anamur cooperates with local hospitals
That is why we are currently working with four governmental and three non-governmental hospitals in Bangladesh to provide the poorest people in the country with free access to the healthcare system. In exchange for providing treatment to those who could not otherwise afford it, we provide hospitals with medications, technical equipment, medical instruments and vital supplies.
Project success: mortality rate remains below 1 percent
As a result, we were able to do our part in this year’s fever epidemic to ensure that less than one percent of the 100,000 people who contracted the disease died of dengue fever.“The worst is now over, the numbers of people suffering from the fever are finally declining,” said Shabbir Uddin Ahmed, Cap Anamur project coordinator in Bangladesh, “through collaborations with hospitals and our constant monitoring, many were saved.”
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