Health Bulletin 2009

Response to Super Cyclone SIDR
Super Cyclone SIDR hit the country on 15 November 2007 which caused a massive damage to
the health infrastructures mainly in 9 districts of southern Bangladesh along with other 21
districts moderately and partially affected. Approximately 3500 lives were lost, 16 thousand
people were injured and the safe drinking water sources and sanitary infrastructures were
inundated by dirty water caused by dead animals, human bodies and other debris. The extent of
casualty was quite minimum. The experts says its only because of better preparedness.
In response to SIDR consequence, the Directorate General of Health Services of MoHFW took
necessary steps to mitigate the adverse effects. Thus monitoring the health situation was in
place as ongoing basis and 690 medical teams were worked in 9 severely Sidr affected districts
Health cluster coordination meetings (MoHFW, health related NGOs, UN & donor agencies)
were continued in Dhaka and 9 districts; Members of the Armed Forces with local administration
worked round the clock for rescuing assets and distributing relief goods, rice, safe drinking
water, Water Purification Tablet (WPT) in the affected areas; Health education Bureau, (DGHS)
had continued to further strengthen health promotional activities to build awareness among the
affected population with technical support from WHO; emergency life-saving drugs had been
supplied by MoHFW, WHO and other stakeholders and regular dispatch of medical supply was
continuing to replenish emergency buffer stock; vacant posts of professors, associate
professors, assistant professors and senior consultants were filed up in the medical colleges of
affected areas by MoHFW; situational health assessment was completed by Marlin on behalf of
DGHS, IEDCR & WHO existing disease surveillance form were redesigned for better reporting.
In response to Sidr, WHO also took necessary initiatives to avert the consequences of Sidr by
deploying public heath specialists who were providing support for coordination among GOB, UN
agencies, NGOs and other stake holders through district health cluster coordination meeting,
initiating training on health education, capacity building for the health personnel and surveillance
support.
WHO also provided 4 water purifying plants and 3 water pumps that are installed in Morelgonj
and Sharankhola upazilas of Bagerhat district, Pathorghata upazila in Barguna district and
Mothbaria upazila in Pirozpur district to ensure safe drinking water in health facilities and for
affected population and therefore, no disease outbreak occurred in the Sidr affected areas.
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