Keeping the slogan “Saturday’s pledge, let’s clean our homes” in mind, Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain inaugurated a special cleanliness and mosquito control drive to control dengue and mosquito-borne diseases.
The program was officially inaugurated in the area around Chattogram Medical College on Saturday morning.
The program has started in Chattogram as part of a nationwide initiative under the direction of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
At the inauguration ceremony, Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain said that the Chattogram City Corporation is regularly strengthening cleanliness activities to ensure good health and a clean environment for the city’s residents.
He said that the Chattogram Medical College area is a very important place because thousands of people come here every day to seek medical services. Therefore, special importance is being given to this area to control mosquito infestation and prevent various diseases including dengue.
Noting that the incidence of Culex mosquitoes has increased in the city, the mayor said that the flow of water is being obstructed due to the accumulation of garbage and garbage in drains and the dumping of waste everywhere. As a result, mosquitoes are breeding in stagnant water. Therefore, it is important to keep drains and sewers clean and increase citizen awareness in waste management.
Dr. Shahadat Hossain said that during the monsoon season, Aedes mosquito larvae are born in clear water accumulated in tubs, coconut shells, materials of under-construction buildings or plastic containers, which are responsible for dengue and chikungunya. However, currently, the spread of Culex mosquitoes is seen more, the main source of which is dirty drains and accumulated waste. This problem can be solved by regularly cleaning drains and keeping the surroundings clean.
He said that this cleanliness and mosquito eradication program will be carried out simultaneously in 41 wards of the city. Larvicide and adulticide drugs have been provided to each ward and officers responsible for ward-based supervision are working. In addition, a special team of about 160 people is working to conduct special surveillance and additional activities in risky areas.
CCC mayor said that some areas including Chawkbazar, Bakolia, Agrabad, Firingibazar, Halishahar, Pahartali have been identified as risky. Special mosquito control and drain cleaning activities will be conducted in these areas.
He also said that the incidence of dengue and chikungunya has reduced significantly due to the use of effective drugs. The use of effective larvicide brought from America has yielded positive results in the destruction of dengue larvae.
CCC mayor urged the city dwellers and said that the city does not belong only to the City Corporation - it is everyone's city. Therefore, every citizen should keep the courtyard, roof, balcony and surroundings of their respective houses clean. He said that it is possible to build a clean, green and healthy city by keeping our surroundings clean at least once a week.
He said that Chattogram has always shown the way in development and initiative. Chattogram will also be an example for other city corporations in the country in terms of building a clean city.
After the inauguration, drains were cleaned in the main gate of Chattogram Medical College, KB Fazlul Quader Road and Pravartak Mor areas and larvicide was sprayed to kill mosquitoes. In addition, the staff of the cleanliness department conducted mosquito killing activities using fogger machines and spray machines.
The inauguration ceremony of the mosquito killing campaign was attended by Chattogram Medical College Hospital Director Brigadier General Mohammad Taslim Uddin, Chattogram City Corporation Chief Cleaning Officer Captain Ikhtiar Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury, Chattogram Medical College Hospital Deputy Director Dr. Mohammad Ilias Chowdhury, Deputy Chief Cleaning Officer Pranab Kumar Sharma, Malaria and Mosquito Control Officer Md. Sarful Islam, along with concerned officials and employees and local residents.
The mayor expressed hope that this government program will play an important role in making Chittagong a clean, healthy and livable city.
