The World Bank on Wednesday (August 30, 2023) approved $200 million to help Bangladesh improve primary healthcare services for treatment, prevention and referral for common illnesses including mosquito-borne diseases like dengue, and medical waste management in Dhaka North and South City Corporations, Chattogram City Corporation, and Savar and Tarabo municipalities. The Urban Health, Nutrition and Population Project will establish a network of primary health centers offering a broad range of health, nutrition, and population services along with a direct referral system with secondary and tertiary-level facilities. About 2.5 million children under five in these urban areas will receive services, according to a release from the WB. Read : World Bank’s cooperation sought to build power transmission lines from Nepal to Bangladesh The credit is from the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), which provides concessional financing, and has a 30-year term with a five-year grace period. The project will improve antenatal services for women, with a target of over 250,000 women receiving at least four checkups during pregnancy. It will also support hypertension screening and follow-up of about 1.3 million adults. To reduce out-of-pocket expenditure on medical care for the poor people, the project will renovate selected existing public health facilities, including government outdoor dispensaries, and family planning clinics. The project will also focus on environmental health and preventive services like mosquito control, medical waste management, and behavior change communication to promote healthy lifestyles to prevent illnesses and mitigate the effects of climate change and air pollution on human health. Read : Govt, World Bank ink $300 million financing deal for skill development, employment of rural youths It will support the development and implementation of a multi-sectoral strategy to manage infectious disease outbreaks in cities and municipalities. To prevent dengue, the project will introduce a climate-based dengue early warning system and outbreak response capacities as well as take measures to clear breeding sites. Abdoulaye Seck, World Bank Country Director for Bangladesh and Bhutan, said that Bangladesh has made remarkable progress in improving healthcare, particularly in rural areas. “But urban areas have limited public healthcare facilities. Hence, poor people and slum dwellers are often forced to turn to more expensive private healthcare. Further, with high population density, climate change, and rapid urbanization, new health challenges are emerging, including an increase of dengue cases, infectious and non-communicable diseases," he said. Read : Dengue: 7 more die, 2367 hospitalised in 24hrs Iffat Mahmud, Senior Operations Officer at the World Bank and Task Team Leader for the Project, said that the impact of climate change on mosquito-borne and infectious diseases is often overlooked. An overreliance on fogging or spraying targeting adult mosquitoes and untargeted larval control is not an efficient use of resources. “As mosquito lifecycle is influenced by climatic conditions, the project will strengthen the mosquito control laboratory and build capacities to implement innovative mosquito control measures and other community-based interventions,” the World Bank official said.

Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has extended its ongoing month-long anti-mosquito drive for another month, till August 31, to curb the spread of mosquito-borne diseases. DNCC Mayor Atiqul Islam came up with the announcement while talking to reporters after distributing books among the students of Mollartek Udayan Government Primary School at Dhaka’s Dakkhin Khan area on Monday. DNCC has started a three-tier programme to control dengue and it also asked to hold dengue awareness meetings involving councillors, imams of mosques, school teachers and renowned persons of the respected wards each week, said Atiqul. 38,429 dengue cases reported in July: DGHS Besides, ten magistrates have been appointed in ten regions to strengthen the anti-mosquito drive, he said. Dengue outbreak: Death toll rises to 247 with 8 more deaths in 24 hours Replying to a question, the DNCC mayor said, “We will apply biological pesticide to destroy the Aedes larvae soon and it can be possible to control dengue if we can start a social movement with the involvement of all.” Dengue outbreak: Death toll rises to 239 with 10 more deaths in 24 hours

The Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) is launching an anti-mosquito drive from Monday to protect the capital’s residents from dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases.