Fisheries and Livestock Minister Sultan Salahuddin Tuku on Saturday said the next three months will be crucial for preventing dengue, as the number of cases usually rises during this period.
He also urged people to keep their homes and surroundings clean and eliminate potential breeding grounds for Aedes mosquitoes.
“The next three months are very important for dengue prevention. People often throw away coconut shells after eating the fruit, allowing water to accumulate inside them. Aedes mosquitoes can breed in such stagnant water,” he said.
The minister made the remarks while speaking to journalists after joining a dengue prevention cleanliness drive at Tangail Medical College Hospital.
He said eliminating Aedes breeding grounds was among the most effective measures to prevent dengue. “We want to raise public awareness. Everyone should take responsibility for keeping their homes and surroundings clean,” Tuku said.
Referring to the previous government, he alleged that it had neglected waste management and failed to pay adequate attention to the issue.
“They were busy with looting and did not care about waste management. We are trying to improve the situation. If hospitals and their surroundings remain clean, people will also become more conscious about keeping their own homes clean,” he said.
Earlier, a dengue awareness rally was held in front of the district administration office. People from different professions took part in the rally, which paraded through key roads in the town before ending at Tangail Medical College Hospital.
Later, waste and debris were removed from different areas of the medical college hospital and General Hospital. Areas with stagnant water were cleaned and potential Aedes breeding grounds were destroyed.