Local Government, Rural Development (LGRD) and Cooperatives Minister Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan on Sunday said the government is giving the highest priority to preventing the spread of dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases.
“Efforts are being made to destroy mosquito breeding grounds, while research and technical capabilities are being strengthened to enhance the effectiveness of mosquito-control medicines,” he said while addressing an emergency meeting of the National Taskforce Committee formed to prevent dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases at the meeting room of the Local Government Division at the Secretariat.
State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam presided over the meeting.
Moyeen Khan said there are various challenges in controlling mosquitoes in large and densely populated areas such as Dhaka North and South City Corporations and Gazipur. Despite limited resources, the city corporations are making all-out efforts, he added.
He said places where mosquitoes breed must be identified and measures taken to prevent water from accumulating there.
The minister further said that research and reviews on the effectiveness of mosquito-control medicines are being conducted in cooperation with Japan and other developed countries. Relevant experts from universities have also been involved in the work, he added.
He stressed the need to strengthen technical capabilities alongside raising public awareness to contain the spread of dengue.
At the meeting, State Minister Mir Shahe Alam said the number of dengue patients has fallen by nearly half this year compared with last year.
He said cleanliness drives, spraying and awareness-raising activities are being conducted in various city corporations to control mosquitoes.
According to information provided by the state minister, around 90 people have died while undergoing treatment after contracting dengue from January this year until yesterday.
Alam urged people to regularly clean discarded tyres, plastic containers and other places where water can accumulate in their homes, on rooftops and balconies, and in surrounding areas.
He said public awareness, alongside government initiatives, will play an important role in preventing dengue.
Secretaries of the Local Government Division and the Health Division, the administrator of Dhaka South City Corporation, officials concerned from Dhaka North and South City Corporations, chief health officers of 13 city corporations and other relevant officials attended the meeting.
Officials from 11 city corporations outside Dhaka joined the meeting virtually.