'Awareness is key to control dengue'

Health Services Department Secretary Saidur Rahman said, “Awareness is the main mantra of dengue control. We all know where mosquitoes originate, how they spread, how to control them – but none of us are willing to follow the rules and be aware. This is the main problem in the spread of dengue.”

He said, “Our lack of awareness is the main reason for the spread of dengue mosquitoes. We blame each other but everyone suffers mosquito bites. How to control the dengue mosquito without blaming anyone, we all do our best from our respective positions and workplaces – only then can we be saved from this epidemic.”

He said this in the president's speech at an event in the meeting room of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare at the Secretariat on Wednesday, December 4.

Earlier, a meeting on dissemination of findings of entomological survey of dengue vectors was held on dissemination.

Director of IEDCR Professor Dr. through power point presentation in the meeting. Tahmina Shirin presented the results of an entomological survey of dengue vectors.

He said, due to climate change, the duration of dengue outbreak is much longer this year than other years. In other years dengue is active from June to October but this year the dengue outbreak is still present even though December has started. In order to deal with this outbreak, a survey program was conducted between the two city corporations of Dhaka.

In the survey, information was collected from house to house in 59 out of 75 wards of Dhaka South City and 40 out of 54 wards of Dhaka North City, i.e. a total of 99 wards of two city corporations. In the survey, dengue infection rate is higher in South City Corporation than Dhaka North City Corporation. All the hospitals in Dhaka are under pressure of dengue patients. At the private level Bardem Hospital, Ibnesina Hospital, Central Mugda Hospital, United Hospital are also notable. Apart from Dhaka, many dengue patients from other districts also receive treatment in Dhaka. Because of that, the number of dengue patients is observed in Dhaka.

It was informed in the meeting about the origin and cure of dengue that the Ministry of Housing, Ministry of Local Government, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, two city corporations should work together. Ministry of Education and Ministry of Primary and Mass Education can sensitize students in primary and secondary level educational institutions. The Ministry of Housing and Public Works can take measures to take precautions regarding waterlogging in houses under construction. The two city corporations will take measures for mosquito repellent and larvicide. People should be made aware to prevent the spread of mosquitoes and to be safe from mosquito bites.