The dengue situation in Dhaka city is deteriorating every passing year. This year, both the number of deaths and infected people are increasing at an alarming rate. The death toll from the mosquito-borne disease has risen to 176 till Sunday. However, the two city corporations in Dhaka are failing to implement effective measures to combat aedes mosquitoes. Their response is seemingly confined to realising fines from the public. Isn't carrying out drives in different parts of the capital to fine some building owners absurd? Are general people responsible for fighting mosquitoes?
If we look at India's Kolkata city, we will see that the city authorities there always keep an eye on the city's mosquito situation and strengthen their monitoring activities from January to June every year. In July, when there is a greater risk of dengue outbreak, monitoring activities get strengthened further.
To control the spread of the mosquito, the Kolkata authorities have formed a three-layer mosquito control committee, and those committees have been working sincerely. Also, they have set up a laboratory for dengue research. They apply effective larvicides so that the breeding grounds of Aedes mosquitoes are destroyed. Regular drives are conducted to apply the medicine to any new place, which has the possibility to become a breeding spot of Aedes mosquitoes.
In Bangladesh, we can do the same to fight Aedes mosquitoes. If there is a combined effort by the government, local representatives and city residents, the spread of this disease can be controlled. We can really learn from Kolkata, imitate the measures there and save valuable lives from dengue.
Rafid Alam,
Crystal Impression,
Dhaka,
rafidalam80@gmail.com