Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has ordered authorities concerned to provide treatment to the Dengue infected patients free of cost. “The Prime Minister is overseeing the latest Dengue situation round the clock and she asked us to ensure the Dengue infected patients get treatment free of cost”, said Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Malek on Saturday while visiting the Dengue infected patients undergoing treatment at the new building of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).
The health minister further informed, “If the number of Dengue infected patients increases, three more hospitals, including the Sheikh Hasina National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute, are kept stand-by for treatment.” In addition, the weekly and government holidays of the officials of the two city corporations in Dhaka have been cancelled until further notice for proper management of mosquito control activities in the capital. The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) has cancelled the holydays in a notice on Saturday.
Earlier, the Health Ministry cancelled holidays for all of its officials and employees. On the other hand, people from all walks of life are now on the field in order to raise awareness about the dangers of dengue fever and its carrier Aedes mosquitoes. They also have taken various measures to fight Aedes mosquitoes and Dengue fever as well as rumours surrounding the disease.
Carrying placards, festoons and banners, cabinet members, lawmakers, city corporation mayors and councilors, member of armed forces and different law enforcement agencies, different voluntary organisations, teachers and students are now holding wayside rallies and discussions to make people aware of how and in what way Aedes mosquito can be destroyed.
As the government has already confirmed that dengue has spread to all corners of Bangladesh, indicating that the situation has taken a turn for the worse. According to the Health Emergency Operations Center DGHS control room, dengue affected patients are now in all the 64 districts across the country. According to DGHS, over 1,687 new patients were hospitalised across the country in the last 24 hours until Friday morning. Of them, 996 cases were reported from Dhaka alone, the densely-populated megacity at the heart of the dengue outbreak.
Among the organisations active against Aedes mosquitoes and Dengue fever, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) on Saturday engaged 50,000 police members to conduct cleaning operations to kill Dengue mosquitoes. The DMP authorities launched drives to prevent Dengue carrying Aedes. DMP Commissioner Md Asaduzzaman Miah inaugurated the programme held at Rajarbagh Police Lines.
The drives will continue until and unless the situation comes under control. The Bangladesh Armed Forces already have launched awareness programmes about Dengue and Aedes as well as cleaning programme inside the cantonments. Army Chief Major General Aziz Ahmed in his announcement said doors of the Combined Military Hospital will remain open for the Dengue infected patients.
The Awami League-led 14-party alliance made an announcement to destroy the breeding sources of Dengue mosquitoes. Under the directives from AL president and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, top leaders of the alliance as well as all the leaders and activists will join a three-day long anti-Aedes drive from August 6 to August 8. The alliance will also distribute leaflets to make people aware of Dengue.
Mohammad Nasim, a presidium member of AL and also the spokesperson to the alliance urged all of their leaders and members to take part in the anti-Dengue programmes.
