THE mosquito population seems to be rising in the capital city while the two city corporations are doing a little to contain the menace. The breeding ground of mosquito, stagnant water, should be cleaned before monsoon when stagnated water in every nook and corner would provide the opportunity to mosquitoes for breeding. The most effective method to combat the outbreak of mosquito-borne diseases is the use of larvicide, which is applied to stagnant water bodies, targeting to kill the mosquito larvae. The indifference of the city corporations to the mosquito breeding is enough for outbreak of mosquito-borne epidemic.
The primary responsibility of controlling the mosquito population lies with both the city corporations. However, the only step they take is that; occasional spraying of insecticides around the city households and into a few drains and water bodies. Despite the Chikunguniya outbreak in 2017, no organisations, city corporations apart, cared to clean the stagnant water bodies. In the last five years, both the corporations have spent around Tk 150 crore on mosquito control but those could not give any relief to citizens of the capital. About 10,148 people were diagnosed with dengue, with 26 deaths reported in 2018. Between January and late February, some 42 patients were diagnosed with dengue. A lack of monitoring at the field level also means that the workers are nonchalant about spraying insecticides. The mosquito menace has become simply intolerable to the city dwellers in most parts of the capital.
As high mosquito population poses a high risk for diseases, the Health Ministry and the city corporations should not remain reluctant to the issue. Due to their combined failure, citizens don’t find any respite from mosquitoes even in the airport, hospital, open space, slum or a bedroom on the 10th floor of a building. More attention should be paid to fight the mosquito menace which, if not contained timely, may cause severe harm. Timely actions by the relevant departments must be ensured.
