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The number of dengue patients is rising across Bangladesh, and the country could see the peak of the current outbreak in the last week of September and early October, Health and Family Welfare State Minister Dr MA Muhit said on Wednesday.
He made the remarks at a seminar organised by the Achol Foundation and the Human Rights Development Centre at the Dhaka Reporters Unity.
The state minister said the government would launch a three-month public awareness campaign to combat dengue, involving volunteer organisations and the general public.
He urged people to keep their homes and workplaces clean and take part in eliminating breeding grounds for Aedes mosquitoes.
City corporations, local government authorities and the Health Ministry will jointly conduct cleanliness drives, awareness campaigns and operations to destroy mosquito larvae, he said.
Dr Muhit said the government has two main objectives in combating dengue — reducing the number of infections and lowering the death rate.
As part of preparations, around 3,000 doctors have already received refresher training on dengue management, he said. The training will continue at district and upazila levels across the country.
The government has also taken advance measures to prevent shortages of hospital beds, saline and dengue testing kits during the peak period, the state minister said.
“According to the current rate of infection, adequate stocks of dengue testing kits and saline are available,” he said.
Dedicated dengue beds have already been activated at government hospitals. If the number of patients rises, additional beds will be rearranged and used for dengue treatment, he added.
The state minister also urged private hospitals to remain prepared for the peak dengue period and play their part in treating patients when necessary.
He warned private hospitals against raising treatment costs unreasonably during the outbreak and instructed them to maintain designated beds for dengue patients.
