Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan on Monday said concrete action alongside an action plan is essential to prevent further deaths from dengue.
“According to the data, the number of dengue cases from January to now is somewhat lower than the corresponding period of last year. But we must remember that the peak period for dengue is generally August, September and October,” he said.
“So, although the number of deaths is currently somewhat lower, there is no scope for us to become complacent. September is ahead of us, followed by October, and even part of November. To prevent the death toll from rising significantly during this period, action alongside an action plan is essential,” Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan said.
He made the remarks as the chief guest at a workshop titled “Workshop on Strategic Action Planning for Dengue Prevention”, organised by the Improvement of Urban Public Health Preventive Services Project (IUPHPSP) of the Local Government Division at a hotel in the capital in the noon.
The minister urged officials of his ministry to maintain constant communication with the Ministry of Health and said the two ministries are working together in a coordinated manner to combat dengue.
“You have noticed that just two days ago, our honourable Prime Minister Tarique Rahman himself expressed concern about dengue and gave necessary directions to prevent its spread across the country,” he said.
Referring to the principle that prevention is better than cure, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan said preventing dengue is much easier than treating the disease after it develops.
He said the Prime Minister has already issued various directives for prevention and treatment of dengue.
Addressing experts and officials working on the project, he urged them to dedicate themselves selflessly and continuously to the welfare of the people.
The minister thanked the World Bank for providing assistance for the project, which is scheduled to continue until early 2028.
However, he stressed that the benefits of the project must continue even after the project ends.
Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan also urged Bangladeshi experts working on dengue to collect necessary information and knowledge from researchers in developed countries.
“We are proud that our country’s experts are working here. But I would also request you to collect necessary information and knowledge from researchers in the developed world who are conducting research on this issue,” he said.
Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan said dengue has gradually increased since the 1964-65 outbreak, when around 30,000 people were affected in Dhaka.
He said the number of dengue infections recorded last year and this year has reached around 50,000.