The Prevention of Dengue Disease in Bangladesh Through Public Health Measures and the Role of the Municipal Corporations (1)
Syed Abu Hasnath*, Ummul Momanin Coalee
ABSTRACT
Since its independence 50+ years ago, Bangladesh has achieved measurable progress in its health sector, including increasing life expectancy, reducing under-5 child mortality, and expanding immunisation coverage to near 100%. However, in the present decade (2016-25), the menace of vector-borne diseases, particularly Dengue, spread by Aedes mosquitoes, has become prevalent—the number of hospitalisations and deaths is substantial. It is especially prevalent in overcrowded, low-income areas of Dhaka city. Accordingly, this paper argues for improving environmental conditions through municipal measures, including targeting mosquito-breeding sites through chemical spraying and public space sanitation; eliminating standing water; larviciding; insecticide spraying; and community mobilisation, as well as social accountability of the municipal authority for their performance, responsiveness, and use of public resources.
