Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Md Tajul Islam has urged the city dwellers to be vigilant so that the roof garden or flower pot of the house does not become a breeding ground for Aedes mosquitoes.
He said this on Wednesday while addressing the 11th Inter-Ministerial Meeting to review the activities of city corporations and other ministries, divisions, departments and agencies on preventing mosquito-borne diseases across the country.
Meanwhile, the minister unveiled the package of national guidelines for prevention of dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases. The local government minister said the rains have started a little earlier this year than other years, the amount is also high and it is raining intermittently. Due to which water is accumulating everywhere.
Mosquitoes are breeding in these establishments as schools, colleges, madrasas and universities are closed and they cannot clean them regularly. He advised to use mosquito repellent or kerosene oil if the roof garden or flower tub could not remove water regularly.
Md. Tajul Islam added that even after keeping his house mosquito-free, it would not be acceptable for anyone to be infected or die from the bite of the Aedes mosquito next door. Every death is tragic; there is no chance to underestimate a single death. This is a punishable offense. Therefore, he urged the city dwellers to be more aware in this regard.
We all want so that not a single person dies of dengue. Mosquito larvae are found in the homes of many elite and educated people which are very sad. The minister said that any company can import effective pesticides by following proper procedures to eradicate Aedes mosquitoes.
Mentioning that earlier only one company used to import pesticides, he said that by breaking that trend, now many companies have been given the opportunity to import pesticides. These pesticides are being made available in the market to make them easily available.
Aedes mosquito outbreak is going to be noticed in the area. Tajul Islam said instructions have been issued to inform the ministry or the city corporation on an urgent basis as soon as dengue patients are admitted to public-private hospitals or clinics so that, as soon as the news is received, it is possible to carry out special operations in and around the house.
The minister asked the Dhaka Cantonment Board, the Civil Aviation Authority and the Bangladesh Railways to monitor the spread of mosquitoes and to monitor them regularly. “We have been informed that mosquito eradication activities are underway on behalf of these organizations,” he said.
Replying to a question on whether there is a plan of the Department of Mosquito Control, the Minister said that the government is not thinking about the Department of Mosquito Control now. Work is underway to set up a ‘Vector Management Cell' to control the spread and prevention of various infectious diseases including dengue and chikungunya.
We have started the work of integrated vector management to control Aedes mosquito and dengue outbreaks not only in the capital or the metropolis but also in the remote rural areas of the country.
Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, Mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation, Md. Atiqul Islam, Mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation, Md. Jahangir Alam, Mayor of Gazipur City Corporation, Senior Secretary, Local Government Department, Housing and Public Works Secretary, Health Secretary, Prime Minister's Office. Officers of concerned ministries / divisions, departments / agencies including officials were present there.