The Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) on Monday launched a cleanliness drive at its national headquarters, Holy Family Red Crescent Medical College Hospital and surrounding areas to strengthen dengue prevention and control efforts.

BDRCS Chairman Barrister Abdus Salam inaugurated the campaign in the morning under the Dengue Response Operation 2026.

Brigadier General Dr SM Humayun Kabir (retd), director of the BDRCS Health Department, and representatives of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), American Red Cross and Swiss Red Cross, among others, addressed the programme.

Speaking on the occasion, the BDRCS chairman said cleanliness, destruction of mosquito breeding grounds and public awareness were crucial to preventing dengue.

He said the BDRCS had been carrying out dengue prevention activities across the country in coordination with the government since September 12, following the prime minister's call for intensified dengue prevention efforts.

Under the Dengue Response Operation 2026, the society has so far conducted 713 cleanliness drives, 179 public awareness campaigns through loudspeakers, and door-to-door and school-based awareness activities in Dhaka North and South city corporations and 15 district units.

More than 400 youth volunteers are engaged in these activities every day, he said.

The BDRCS has also handed over 50,000 NS1 test kits, 70,000 bags of normal saline and 15,000 bags of baby saline to the Disease Control Division of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

A cash assistance programme is also underway to provide Tk 10,000 each to the families of 2,500 dengue patients, the chairman added.

He said the society's activities were not limited to the 17 designated units, as other district units were also supporting the government's dengue prevention efforts through their own initiatives.

Expressing gratitude to the IFRC and other partner National Societies for their support in responding to dengue, measles and other humanitarian emergencies, he said youth volunteers were the driving force behind the organisation's field-level activities.

The BDRCS chairman also urged media professionals to highlight the society's ongoing humanitarian initiatives and the dedicated efforts of its volunteers.

He reaffirmed the society's commitment to standing beside people during disasters and emergencies across the country in coordination with the government and Movement Partners.