City Corporations must act quickly to tackle mosquito menace

DHAKA city dwellers are facing severe mosquito menace for the last couple of weeks. It is almost impossible to peacefully stay at home, particularly in the evening because of mosquito biting in the living room and elsewhere. At present, city dwellers have to use mosquito nets even during daytime at some city areas where children are mainly vulnerable to mosquito bites.

Presence of mosquitoes is now visible not only at lower floor of dwelling houses; they are equally visible on upper floors of multi-storied buildings. Mosquito coil, aerosol spray, electric bat or fogging machines are failing to bring relief from its menace. Mosquito-borne diseases such as Chikungunya and Dengue are already in the spread at many city areas and may become endemic if quick mosquito control measures were not taken all over the city and particularly in slum areas.

A few days ago, a Malaysian plane took-off after two hours delay from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport following heavy mosquito presence inside the aircraft. The passengers asked the pilots to suspend the flight when it became impossible to stay inside the aircraft due to mosquito bites. So long such episode was unheard and if the menace continues, Dhaka airport even risks to be identified as a public health menace to other airports of the region and beyond.

We wonder how the two City Corporations — Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) are taking the menace threatening public health. Both City Corporations have their allocations to fight mosquito but people remained highly vulnerable to mosquito attacks and many fear it may further aggravate as the summer intensifies and monsoon rain will start in few months.

Report said DSCC has already undertaken a two-week long special mosquito-control programme from Wednesday. Health workers will spray pesticides in the 57 wards. The DNCC has also taken a special crash programme from February 12 to spray pesticides that will continue till March 11. But people wonder there is no visible effect of such mosquito control efforts to raise question if they are really using effective chemicals or using the programme as eyewash misusing most of the fund otherwise. In our view responsible officials of the two City Corporations should monitor the programme at field level. People want to see the result, not story about spraying pesticides.

The HSC examination is due to start from April and students need peaceful environment to prepare for the exam. City Corporations must take note of the special circumstances and pay heed to people’s suffering. Any neglect is not acceptable.