All necessary measures taken to fight dengue menace: LGRD Minister
Despite all-out efforts, the record deaths due to dengue this year is very distressing, the minister said
Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Md Tajul Islam boldly said his ministry has taken all the comprehensive measures to fight the ongoing dengue menace in the country.
Speaking at a workshop entitled "Dengue Prevention and Control: Information Sharing" held at a city hotel on Wednesday, he said, "It is the responsibility of the Local Government Division to actively engage in mosquito control measures, a task we are diligently pursuing. And the health department is responsible for the treatment of patients."
The minister highlighted that his ministry had been proactive and well-prepared throughout the year in their endeavours to combat the Aedes mosquito, which is the vector responsible for transmitting viruses leading to dengue fever.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
He, however, expressed deep sorrow and concern about the alarming increase in dengue-related fatalities this year, despite their continuous and tireless efforts.
Throughout the year, the ministry has consistently provided essential resources, including larvicide, equipment, and personnel, to combat the proliferation of Aedes mosquitoes within city corporations, he added.
He mentioned that the ministry has implemented various initiatives to enhance public awareness, including the promotion of television commercials (TVCs) on several television channels. The city corporation has imposed penalties in cases where Aedes mosquito breeding sites or larvae are detected.
Citing the World Health Organization's data, Minister Tajul Islam revealed that globally, around seven lakh lives are lost annually due to various mosquito-borne diseases, including dengue, chikungunya, and malaria.
He emphasised that Bangladesh, given its geographical location, faces multiple challenges in managing mosquito-borne diseases. Remarkably, dengue's prevalence in Bangladesh was not observed until 2019, despite its initial appearance in 1964.
The minister reported, "In 2020, our efforts in managing dengue yielded more favourable results than before, thanks to our proactive preparedness and remedial measures. This positive trend extended into 2021-22."
However, this year has witnessed a surge in both dengue cases and fatalities, surpassing all previous records.
Minister Tajul Islam stressed the importance of public awareness and participation in mosquito control based on their past experiences.
World Bank Senior Operations Officer Ifat Mahmood presented the keynote address at the workshop, with Secretary of the Local Government Division Muhammad Ibrahim in the chair.
World Bank (Bangladesh and Bhutan) Country Director Abdoulaye Seck, Additional Secretary of Local Government Division Dr Malay Chowdhury, and Joint Secretary Farzana Mannan also spoke at the event.
