Dhaka: Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan on Monday emphasized the need for concrete action and an action plan to prevent further deaths from dengue. According to United News of Bangladesh, Dr Moyeen Khan highlighted that while the number of dengue cases from January to the present is somewhat lower than the same period last year, vigilance is crucial as the peak period for dengue generally occurs in August, September, and October.
Dr Moyeen Khan warned against complacency, noting that although deaths are currently lower, the months ahead pose a significant risk for an increase in cases and fatalities. He stressed the importance of immediate action and planning to prevent the death toll from rising significantly during this critical period.
He made these remarks as the chief guest at the 'Workshop on Strategic Action Planning for Dengue Prevention,' organized by the Improvement of Urban Public Health Preventive Services Project (IUPHPSP) of the Local Government Division at a hotel in the capital.
The minister called for continuous communication between his ministry and the Ministry of Health, emphasizing coordinated efforts to combat dengue. He referenced recent remarks by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, who expressed concern about dengue and issued necessary directions to curb its spread nationwide.
Dr Moyeen Khan underscored the principle that prevention is more effective than treatment and noted that the Prime Minister has issued directives for both prevention and treatment of dengue. He urged experts and officials involved in the project to dedicate themselves to public welfare.
He expressed gratitude to the World Bank for supporting the project, which will run until early 2028, and stressed the importance of sustaining its benefits beyond the project's conclusion. Dr Moyeen Khan also encouraged Bangladeshi experts to gather information and knowledge from international researchers to enhance their efforts.
Reflecting on the history of dengue in the country, Dr Moyeen Khan said that the disease has been a growing concern since the 1964-65 outbreak, which affected approximately 30,000 people in Dhaka. He noted that infections recorded last year and this year have reached about 50,000.