Dhaka, July 26 (UNB) – Amid a worsening dengue outbreak, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Md Atiqul Islam said on Friday said people can get free tests for the viral disease at 52 health centres from Monday.
“Dengue testing kits will be provided to all health centres on Sunday,” he said at a meeting with heads of schools, colleges and madrasas at Mirpur Girls Ideal School and College auditorium to raise awareness about the disease.
To learn about the health centres’ location, one has to call the control room at 01932665544. The locations include five maternity centres (Matri Sadan).
Official figures show that 9,256 people had been infected with dengue Between January 1 and Thursday. Nine of them have died. Many hospitals outside the capital have also reported dengue cases.
Islam said each mosquito extermination worker will carry tracking device from Sunday and come under strict monitoring to ensure that they are doing their jobs properly.
What is dengue?
Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection. It is estimated that about half of the world’s population is now at risk, according to WHO.
Dengue viruses are spread to people through the bite of infected Aedes species mosquitoes.
There is no specific treatment for dengue or severe dengue, but early detection and access to proper medical care lowers fatality rates below 1 percent, WHO says.
Each year, up to 400 million people are infected with dengue, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Approximately 100 million people get sick from infection, and 22,000 die from severe dengue, CDC says.
Teachers of schools, colleges and madrasas will monitor the activities and ensure the presence of workers, which will be pre-scheduled at DNCC website.
Teachers with students, scout leaders and the city corporation’s cleaning staff will visit houses with dengue awareness message from July 28 to 31, the mayor said.
Islam sought assistance of the law enforcers and elected public representatives to conduct the drive against dengue.
He requested concerted efforts to tackle the problem.
While speaking in the programme, Md Abul Kalam Azad, Bangladesh Scouts President and Principal Coordinator (SDG) to Prime Minister’s Office, urged students to conduct mosquito prevention campaign wearing school uniforms.
Deputy Commissioner Abu Saleh Md Ferdous Khan, Information Commissioner Suraiya Begum, Local Government Division Secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed, Education Ministry’s senior secretary Md Sohorab Hossain, Primary and Mass Education secretary Akram Al Hossin were present in the program with Divisional Commissioner Md Jaynul Bari in the chair.
Meanwhile, Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Sayeed Khokon on Friday insisted that dengue in the city cannot yet be classified as an epidemic.
He claimed that the number of dengue patients is between 7,000 and 10,000.
DNCC and DSCC on Thursday informed the High Court that they will launch a three-day crash programme against mosquitoes to tackle the dengue menace.
