Mayor Taposh blames Health Directorate for dengue deaths rise
The dengue situation in Bangladesh is better than in developed countries, the mayor claims
Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh has said the Directorate General of Health Services should be held accountable for the increasing number of deaths due to dengue.
"The mortality rate due to dengue is on the rise. The health directorate must pay more attention to the matter," he was addressing an event at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in the capital on Wednesday.
He further said results of surveys on the dengue issue from the health directorate need to come in earlier, based on which the city corporation can proceed with their work.
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Mayor Taposh recommended increasing the quality and scope of medical services and ensuring early intervention and medical care for dengue patients.
"We have started operations in areas where the Breteau Index is above 20 as well as those with a high number of dengue patients," he said regarding the initiatives to control the mosquito-borne disease.
The mayor claimed that the dengue situation in Bangladesh is better than in developed countries. The city corporation is able to control the dengue situation.
Mentioning that no country has ever been able to ensure zero dengue cases, he said, "If any country has a solution, we will accept it. The point is to keep it under control. The year 2019 had the highest number of patients. Then we brought it under control."
"If we compare the statistics of the developed world, it can be seen that we are in a better position than other countries," he said.
Taposh added, "Aedes mosquito is changing its characteristics due to climate change or any other reason. The Dhaka South is considering the matters and expanding operations accordingly."
Addressing the city dwellers, the Dhaka South mayor said, "I request everyone, wherever you find Aedes larvae, as soon as you inform us about this. Our mosquito-eradication workers and supervisors go and destroy those larvae within 15 minutes. Do not allow water to accumulate anywhere. If we can destroy the source of water, we can get rid of dengue disease."
