The authorities have geared up preparations to tackle a possible crisis caused by the Aedes mosquitoes in Mymensingh as the number of dengue patients has been on the rise in the district.
Many of the patients are coming in from other districts.
Due to the increase in patients, a 50-bed dengue isolation ward has been opened for patients at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital. This ward, equipped with all required facilities, was launched on October 19. On Saturday at 12 noon, 52 patients were undergoing treatment at the isolation ward.
Authorities say they are ready to increase the number of beds when needed.
According to data from the hospital, 277 dengue patients received treatment from January to October this year. Among them, 145 patients were treated in October alone.
Dengue patients and deaths jumped manifolds in October, mainly in Dhaka and Cox's Bazar, prompting the authorities to expand services at government hospitals. Doctors have advised people with fevers to get tested for dengue and admitted to hospitals without delay.
Maqbool Ahmed, a patient at the ward, said: "It has been very good to have a separate ward for the dengue patients. The ward is clean, and good medical care is available with all medicines. The hospital doctors regularly check the patients and give treatment on time.”
Rajib Hasan from Dhobaura works as a quality inspector at a garment factory in Gazipur. When the fever and headache started last week, he took leave from the office and went to his village home on October 19. Since the symptoms did not abate even after taking medicine from a local doctor, he got tested and was found to be infected with dengue. Since then, he has been admitted to the hospital and receiving treatment.
He said: "Several people working in my garments factory are suffering from dengue and are undergoing treatment at different hospitals.”
Brigadier General Golam Kibria, director of Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, said: "As the number of dengue patients is increasing day by day, the isolation ward was opened on the third floor of the hospital's administrative building. If the number of patients increases, the number of beds will also increase.”
Meanwhile, the Mymensingh City Corporation is carrying out regular anti-mosquito campaigns and spraying medicine to destroy Aedes larvae.
Moreover, mobile courts are being conducted in the 33 wards to determine whether there are Aedes mosquito larvae in the water accumulated at different houses and other sites.
Mayor of Mymensingh City Corporation Ikramul Haque Titu said: “There is no alternative to creating awareness to prevent the spread of dengue. Citizens living in cities should be more aware of ensuring there is no stagnant water.”
