Special Task Force to Boost Dengue Prevention Efforts

Bangla Press Desk:  The government on Tuesday decided to form a special task force under the supervision of State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam to further strengthen dengue prevention and response activities.

The decision was made at the first meeting of the National Committee on Prevention of Dengue and Other Mosquito-Borne Diseases held at the conference room of the Local Government Division at the secretariat with Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives (LGRD) Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir in the chair, the ministry said in a press release.

It said the task force will be responsible for monitoring field-level activities, providing necessary directives, enhancing coordination among different agencies and implementing emergency measures.

Mir Shahe Alam was present at the meeting.

At the meeting, Mirza Fakhrul said all relevant institutions must work in a coordinated manner to prevent dengue. 

He, however, also noted that public awareness and active participation are as important as government initiatives in combating dengue.

The LGRD minister directed city corporations, municipalities, zila parishads, and other relevant public and private institutions under the ministry to perform their responsibilities more effectively.

The meeting adopted several important decisions to prevent dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases. 

These include large-scale distribution of leaflets and awareness materials through various offices and agencies, conducting special dengue awareness campaigns at schools, colleges and madrasas involving teachers, students and guardians, and strengthening cleanliness drives through coordination among local administrations, public representatives, and civil society.

The decisions also include regularly testing and monitoring the quality of fogger machines and mosquito control operations, conducting special drives to identify and destroy Aedes mosquito breeding grounds, and increasing inspections of under-construction buildings, rooftop gardens, tyre shops, garages and waterlogged areas.

In addition, the meeting decided to intensify awareness campaigns through mass media and social media, identify locations where Aedes larvae are detected and take necessary preventive measures, strengthen monitoring and supervision activities related to dengue prevention, and rapidly collect and analyse information on dengue patients to identify risk-prone areas and take necessary measures.

Speakers at the meeting said integrated and vigorous preparations are essential from now as there is a possibility of an increase in dengue infections during the monsoon season. 

They stressed the need for speedy implementation of the decisions taken by the national committee, acceleration of field-level activities and ensuring the required manpower.

Representatives of different ministries, agencies and city corporations attended the meeting. Senior officials of the Local Government Division as well as representatives from Dhaka University, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, WASA, LGED, DPHE, and RAJUK also participated.

The meeting was informed that the national committee was recently reconstituted to make the government's activities for preventing dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases more coordinated and effective. 

The committee, led by LGRD Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, comprises representatives from different ministries, divisions and agencies.