Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will launch a three-month nationwide campaign against dengue outbreak on September 12 focusing on cleanliness and public awareness to curb the mosquito-borne disease.
The decision came after the PM chaired a dengue-prevention meeting at the Secretariat as Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu said. Tarique described the coming three months as a high-risk period and said mosquito-control measures alone cannot contain dengue cleanliness and public awareness must go hand in hand.
He directed authorities to run coordinated field activities involving local administrations, volunteer groups and students. City corporations will lead efforts in metropolitan areas the deputy commissioners at the district level and upazila nirbahi officers (UNOs) at the upazila level.
Volunteers from the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, Scouts the Bangladesh National Cadet Corps, Girl Guides, the Red Crescent Society, and school and college students will join the drive. Every Saturday they will visit homes and other establishments to clean surroundings and identify Aedes mosquito breeding sites.
The PM also called for wider awareness campaigns through television and social media with urging regular dissemination of dengue-prevention messages. "The next three months are crucial. Alongside government efforts, active public participation is essential" Tarique said also urging people to keep homes, schools and workplaces clean.
The meeting was attended by Disaster Management Minister Asadul Habib Dulu, Information Minister Andalib Rahman Partha, State Ministers Mir Shahe Alam, Dr MA Muhit and Yasser Khan Chowdhury, Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani, Principal Secretary ABM Abdus Sattar and other senior officials.
