The health directorate has identified 19 areas in the capital city of Dhaka as extremely vulnerable to dengue due to the widespread presence of Aedes mosquitoes. 10 of the areas are in Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and nine in Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC). The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) conducted the survey in 100 areas under 98 wards of the two city corporations.
The study found that Basabo and Goran are at the top of the list of risky areas in DSCC with 73.3 points on the Bureau Index, followed by Elephant Road and Science Laboratory areas with 66.7 points; RK Mission Road and Tikatuli with 50 points; and Banasree, Mintoo Road and Baily Road areas with 40 points. In DNCC, Moghbazar and New Eskaton are the riskiest areas with 56.7 points, followed by Bashundhara Residential Area, Nikunja, Kalyanpur, Darussalam, Mirpur-10, Kazipara, Mohakhali and Niketan with 40 points.
Among the houses with Aedes larvae, the highest 44.2 per cent was found in multi-storied buildings, 24.5 per cent in individually-owned buildings, 19.1 per cent in under-construction buildings, 9.7 per cent in slum areas and 2.6 per cent in abandoned plots. According to the report, most of the wards in the two city corporations are at risk of dengue due to the prevalence of Aedes mosquitoes. A total 36 people died of Dengue in the country since the first death this year was recorded early last month. At least 291 dengue patients were hospitalised on Sunday.
We want to say the DSCC and the DNCC must take immediate steps to protect the people from the dengue menace and combat the disease by destroying breeding ground of its carrier, Aedes mosquitoes. The DGHS study which has identified area-wise data will be helpful to design spraying of insecticide, healthcare and awareness campaigns for the purpose. Our poor healthcare system cannot afford another public health emergency amid the pandemic.
