Ctg Correspondent
The Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) has launched a month-long special mosquito control ‘crash programme’ to prevent dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases on the occasion of World Mosquito Day.
The programme was formally inaugurated on Thursday morning in front of St Placid’s School in the city.
According to CCC sources, eight wards identified as high-risk areas by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) will receive special attention. The wards are 2, 3, 17, 18, 19, 32, 34 and 39.
Additional manpower will be deployed to identify and destroy mosquito breeding grounds, eliminate Aedes larvae and apply necessary insecticides.
Ashraful Amin, acting Chief Executive Officer and Secretary of CCC, said the city corporation had been regularly using Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) for the past five to six months.
He said more than 800 dengue patients were recorded in the CCC area during the same period last year, compared with around 550 to 580 this year. Eight people died of dengue last year during the period, while no dengue-related death has been reported in the CCC area so far this year.
“More than 100 workers have received special training to make the mosquito control activities more effective. Additional manpower will be deployed in the high-risk areas, while regular operations will continue in other wards,” he said.
Ashraful Amin stressed that dengue control could not depend solely on insecticide spraying. Construction sites, abandoned places, stagnant water and other potential breeding grounds would receive special attention.
CCC has assigned 10 magistrates to different zones to conduct regular drives over the next month. If Aedes larvae are found at residences, construction sites, institutions or other premises, legal action may be taken, including fines and, where applicable, imprisonment.
The CCC official said leaflets and awareness materials would also be distributed among students and members of the public in cooperation with the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, DGHS and other organisations.
CCC Chief Conservancy Officer Captain Ikhtiar Uddin Chowdhury said cleanliness was equally important in preventing dengue.
“Drains, canals, construction sites, abandoned places and other areas where water accumulates must be cleaned regularly to destroy mosquito breeding grounds,” he said.
He urged residents to prevent stagnant water in and around their homes, particularly on rooftops and balconies, and to regularly check flower pots, discarded containers, coconut shells and construction materials.
He said the special programme would continue for one month, while regular mosquito control and cleanliness activities would continue across the city.
Although the programme was formally launched on the occasion of World Mosquito Day, it was not merely a day-centred initiative, he said. “CCC has been working continuously to control dengue for the past two to three months. Mayor Dr Shahadat Hossain is personally monitoring the overall activities and providing necessary instructions regularly.”
A dengue awareness programme was also organised for students at Patharghata City Corporation Boys’ School.
Among those present were CCC Chief Education Officer Dr Kissinger Chakma, Chief Health Officer Dr Md Imam Hossain Rana, magistrates and regional executive officers, Malaria and Mosquito Control Officer Md Shorful Islam Mahi, Golam Baki Masud, Red Crescent volunteers and officials from the Netherlands-based non-governmental organisation MSF. #EK
