Staff Reporter :
Speakers at a human chain programme in the city on Wednesday demanded that City Corporations and the Department of Health immediately take effective measures to prevent and eradicate ‘Chikungunya’, which has broken out recently as a public health threat.
They pointed out that Bangladesh’s disease monitoring arm, Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) has confirmed the outbreak recently by analysing blood and saliva of 643 fever patients. The IEDCR has said 513 out of 643 patients were found inflicted by ‘Chikungunya’, which shows the intensity of the disease in Dhaka city.
The human-chain programme was organised in front of the Fine Arts Department, University of Dhaka by the Poribesh Bachao Andolan (POBA) along with 19 other organisations.
General Secretary of POBA Abdus Sobhan, Executive Director of Bangladesh Human Rights and Development Md Mahbubul Haq, President of Puran Dhaka Nagorik Uddog, Nazim Uddin, President of Socheton Nagarbasi, GM Rustom Khan and Member of POBA Camelia Chowdhury, among others, attended the human chain programme. The speakers blamed inactiveness by the Department of Health and City Corporations for the intensity of the disease, which broke out since May this year. No effective measures, actions and researches were undertaken for prevention of such disease by the authorities, which fueled such incredible sufferings to the citizens, though the disease was first reported in 2008 in northern Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj districts.
“The City Corporations who should act fast to save lives of the citizens are still inactive to combat such a public health threat,” said Camelia Chowdhury.
“City Corporations are not spraying germicides and the breeding sites are still vulnerable to spreading the disease at an alarming rate and causing serious sufferings to the patients, especially to the children,” Camelia blamed.
Abdus Sobhan of POBA has highlighted Dhaka metropolis as the safe zone of mosquito breeding and said it helps outbreak of chikungunya and other mosquito-transmitted diseases in the city.
He urged City Corporations and the Department of Health to undertake crash programmes on eradication of mosquito breeding sites immediately and announce alarm to the situation. The rainy season has turned the situation from bad to worse as there are many streets and other sports where water is logging on.
“The government has to ensure clarity, responsibility and reliabilities of the authorities concerned for ensuring public health. The authorities are not recognizing the issue as public health threat,” Sobhan said.
“Climate change has an influence on such vector-borne diseases, so we have to come up with strategies by effective research on prevention and treatment for combating the disease,” he added.
During outbreaks, the City Corporations have to ensure quality insecticides to be sprayed, ensure efficient waste management, proper management of drainage systems, generate mass awareness on the issue and enhance collaboration among departments for ensuring public health, the speakers suggested.
