Much blame has been assigned to the Dhaka city corporations over the terrible chikungunya outbreak, but it must also be asked: What was the Health Ministry doing regarding all of this?
Despite a warning from the World Health Organisation, the Health Ministry has claimed ignorance on the matter, preferring to pass on the blame to other bodies.
Furthermore, DNCC’s chief medical officer has said the Health Ministry did not issue any warning in line with the WHO guidelines.
While the city corporations do spray insecticides to try to tackle the mosquito problem, it is up to the Health Ministry to look at the big picture, and pay particular attention to anything that might turn into an epidemic.
They need to clean up their act.