Tarique orders nationwide cleanliness drive, public awareness push to curb dengue

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has called for a nationwide push on cleanliness and public awareness to contain the dengue outbreak.

At a Sunday afternoon meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the premier reviewed the dengue outbreak and measures to tackle it, said his Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu.

“The prime minister has given different directives to the relevant local government agencies to prevent dengue.”

Shiplu said Tarique urged a "coordinated, all-hands effort, with greater public participation" instead of relying solely on government agencies.

“People need to be made more aware of keeping homes and surroundings clean, removing stagnant water and rubbish, and preventing mosquito breeding grounds.”

Tarique also ordered BNCC, Rover Scouts and Red Crescent personnel to join disaster management volunteers in cleanliness and awareness drives.

“They have been asked to involve local people in clean-up campaigns,” Shiplu said.

The meeting also weighed boosting dengue treatment and patient management at Upazila hospitals, with adequate stocks of medicines and supplies.

It also discussed providing mosquito nets for hospitalised dengue patients to reduce the risk of transmission by mosquitoes that bite infected patients.

“The prime minister stressed implementation of the decisions, saying ‘There must be a reflection of this on the ground’.”