Govt to formulate integrated action plan for dengue prevention.
Local Government, Rural Development (LGRD) and Cooperatives Minister Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan today said necessary measures would be taken by formulating an integrated action plan in coordination with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to prevent dengue.
He said all relevant institutions, including the Local Government Division and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, must work together to prevent dengue.
Dr Moyeen made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of a workshop titled "Strategic Action Plan for Dengue Prevention" held at a city hotel here.
He stressed strengthening preventive activities at the field level, saying prevention is more effective than cure.
The minister said August, September and October constitute the peak period for dengue, making it urgent to take necessary measures before the situation worsens.
Although the current number of infections and deaths is slightly lower than during the same period last year, there is no scope for complacency, he said.
Dr Moyeen said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman inaugurated a three-month prevention and cleanliness campaign just two days ago and issued directives to prevent the spread of dengue across the country.
By participating in simultaneous awareness campaigns across all 64 districts, the Prime Minister is inspiring the new generation and calling upon them to become partners in social transformation, he said.
Highlighting the history of dengue, Dr Moyeen said it is not a new disease, as people in various parts of the world have been battling it for nearly 2,000 years.
He said the reason for recounting this history is that "as we contemplate formulating an action plan today, a proper review of this background—drawing upon past experiences—will help make our future strategies effective."
Therefore, he said, considering the history of the disease, environmental factors and the spread of mosquitoes, they must leverage local realities and experiences alongside modern technology.
The event was presided over by Secretary of the Local Government Division Md Shahidul Hassan. Iffat Mahmud, Senior Operations Officer and Project Task Team Leader at the World Bank's Dhaka office, attended as a special guest.
Officials from the Local Government Division and representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, icddr,b, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), IEDCR, NIPSOM, the Department of Meteorology, and different city corporations and municipalities were present.
