In the wake of the recent outbreak of dengue infection, the government has undertaken all-out measures to control the mosquito-borne health hazard that is showing no sign of abating. In this respect, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has said, “It can be called one kind of war. We have taken all-out measures to prevent dengue and chikungunya. If we can destroy all the breeding grounds of mosquitos, we will win this war”, he said. The home minister said, “Everyone will have to come forward to destroy the origin of the Aedes mosquito. People’s awareness can play a vital role in freeing us from this disease.”
He said this while addressing a mass awareness campaign on dengue, which was organised by Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) at Manik Mia Avenue in the capital on Friday.
According to the report of Emergency Operation Center and Control Room of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), about 3,461 people with dengue infection were admitted to different public and private hospitals across the country over the past 18 days. A new variety of dengue has gripped the country this time with dozens of patients reporting to hospitals every day. The only good news is the new variety is not as fatal as dengue of the previous years. Because of this characteristic, death rate this year is quite low. According to many health experts, people are coming to hospitals more out of panic than for any real cause to worry about.
The prevalence of the dengue infection is severe in the capital city. However, this year dengue patients have also been detected in four other districts apart from Dhaka. In order to keep the war against mosquito going in full speed, DNCC has canceled leave of all officials and employees of its Waste Management Department and Mosquito Control Department until Aedes mosquitoes are destroyed.
After attending the mass awareness rally, DNCC Mayor Atiqul Islam said, “We will work together until the total destruction of the dengue and chikungunya virus carrier Aedes mosquito from DNCC. To make this work more dynamic, the leave of all the officials and employees of Waste Management Department and Mosquito Control Department has been cancelled.”
The Mayor also said, “DNCC Mosquito control workers and supervisors are working regularly to destroy mosquitoes. The name and mobile number of mosquito control workers, supervisors and monitoring officers of each area has been given on the website of the DNCC. Anyone can call them on phone.” Referring to public awareness as the most urgent need to prevent dengue, the Mayor said, “Dengue and Chikungunya virus carrier Aedes mosquito originates in clean stagnant water. We must clean water pots at our own initiative every three days.”
Meanwhile, Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has started a 15-day programme to introduce diagnostic testing facilities to confirm dengue infection. The testing facilities that began on Monday would be available in all the 57 wards of DSCC. According to DSCC sources, a total of 68 mobile medical teams are working to identify potential suspected dengue-infected patients and refer them to 476 health centres where primary treatment would be available.
Attending Friday’s mass awareness campaign at Manik Mia Avenue, DNCC Panel Mayor Aleya Sarwar Daisy said, “Dengue and Chikungunya are a viral fever, whose carrier is the Aedes mosquito. Aedes mosquitoes lay eggs in clean stored water. So, we have to clean our house and water pots both inside and outside the house every three days.” Actress Aruna Biswas said, “We, who live in Dhaka, have to be aware first. We love this county. So, we need to clean our houses, water pots and surroundings of our houses on our own initiative.”
Actor Ferdous Ahmed said, “We have come here to create mass awareness about dengue.”For creating awareness about dengue, Awami League political leaders and activists joined a rally with different colourful banners and festoons and different slogans.
Sadek Khan (MP Dhaka-13), Aslamul Haque (MP Dhaka-14), Pankaj Debnath (MP Barisal-4), renowned writer Syed Abul Maksud, former national cricket captain Akram Khan, national cricket team player Mehedi Hasan Miraz were present in the rally to make the city people aware about the dengue and chikungunya disease carrier Aedes mosquito.
Besides, Chief Executive Officer of DNCC Md Abdul Hai, Chief Health Officer Brigadier General Mominur Rahman Mamun, Director General of Health Department Prof Abul Kalam Azad, along with other DNCC councilors and Awami League political activists also participated.