PM orders nationwide cleanliness drives with public participation to prevent dengue

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday directed the authorities concerned to intensify cleanliness drives and public awareness campaigns across the country with people's participation to prevent the spread of dengue.

He gave the directives at a meeting on the dengue situation and measures to combat the disease held at the Bangladesh Secretariat, said Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu.

The Prime Minister stressed greater public participation in dengue prevention instead of relying solely on government agencies.

He called for raising awareness about keeping homes and surroundings clean, removing stagnant water and waste, and eliminating mosquito breeding grounds.

Tarique Rahman also directed the authorities to involve disaster management volunteers, Bangladesh National Cadet Corps (BNCC), Rover Scouts and Red Crescent volunteers in cleanliness and awareness activities.

He emphasised conducting cleanliness drives at the local level by engaging people through these volunteers.

The meeting also discussed strengthening treatment facilities and patient-management capacity for dengue patients at upazila-level hospitals.

The supply of mosquito nets for admitted dengue patients was also discussed to reduce the risk of the disease spreading through mosquitoes that bite infected patients.

Stressing the need to ensure implementation of the decisions taken at the meeting, the Prime Minister said, “The decisions must be reflected in the field.”

Emphasising prevention as the key to combating dengue, he directed the authorities concerned to work in a coordinated manner and undertake extensive awareness campaigns to ensure people's participation in cleanliness activities.

Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Minister Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, State Minister Mir Shahe Alam, State Minister for Health and Family Welfare MA Muhit, Prime Minister’s Special Assistant for Health Dr SM Ziauddin Hyder, Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Abdus Salam, Prime Minister’s Special Assistant Shakirul Islam Khan and secretaries and senior officials of the ministries and divisions concerned were present.