Dengue is no longer a city disease. Dengue has now spread nationwide. Likewise, dengue is no longer just a seasonal disease. It is a year-round disease. From this, it is clear that the country needs to be aware of the disease that is spreading throughout the year to destroy our lives. The results of trying to suppress dengue in the past years are now being felt in bones. It is said that once dengue enters a state or country, it cannot be removed, it has to be suppressed only. But if the suppression method is not appropriate. If only pillow pass pillow pass is played in the name of suppression, then the scope of expression of dengue accelerates.
Dengue-carrying Aedes mosquito control and dengue treatment are 2 different things, but it is closely connected.It is clear when dengue spread all over the country due to fear of people from all walks of life. The common people were just as disoriented as the past dictatorial regimes had surfaced. On the other hand, the deadly enemy of humans, Aedes mosquito, spreads its lineage and spreads dengue virus in human body. The year 2023 was the extreme state of this horror. The remnants of which were in a strange form until May 2024. May, June 2024 had a little relief, but from July, the severity of dengue has started again. At the time of writing i.e., till 24th September out of total 25701 infected people 12860 infected till 24th September. Out of total 136 deaths, 53 deaths up to September 24.
Analysis of the number of victims and deaths shows that Dhaka South City Corporation is the most affected and its number is 6150 till September 24. Similarly, the highest death rate is also in South City Corporation which is 52% of the total deaths.This statistic shows how tyrannical fascism not only in administration, but the arbitrariness of the city mayor can bring about terrible results in the production of aedes mosquitoes. I have tried many times, scientific method to guide all activities in mosquito control. But every time I had to return with a broken heart with failure due to autocratic rules of DSCC. Mosquito control is never a one-size-fits-all approach, just as it is never a single human decision. This suppression method is a practical matter of consultation involving all stakeholders in a scientific manner. In all the countries of the world that are able to control mosquito-borne diseases successfully, it is necessary to apply it subject to the approval of the expert team. Failure to do so will definitely give the opposite result. In any disease of public importance, decisions must be made in the proper analysis of epidemiological studies.
But in that case, it must be ensured that the correct statistical information is presented. Expert panel support is essential to ensure accurate correlation of dengue vector Aedes mosquito density and dengue prevalence. Along with this, when it will be possible to analyze the correct research-based data on the effectiveness of the mosquito control system and the development of dengue treatment etc., it will be possible to select a proper implementation method. This should be accompanied by political and administrative will. The councilors of our city mayors are the representatives of the common people. What will be the welfare of these common people is their main target. They entered public service with the vow to protect common people from the deadly dengue by suppressing the Aedes mosquito that carries this dengue. But the reality is very cruel. Many international organizations work with the government in our country.Organizations such as World Health Organization, UNICEF, UNDP, UNESCO, Food and Agricultural Organization, USAid, etc. also have their own policies. Aligning our policy with their policy must ensure the generalizability of research findings. As many research and education institutions in the country as possible, especially public health education and research institutions such as: National Institute of Prevention and Social Medicine NIPSOM, institutions of public importance such as reputed universities and quality public health professionals through MOU. will be created, as well as in this globalized world, the proper use of progressive innovations will surely be possible. In the same way, by establishing inter-relationships between universities and research institutions of the country, the practice of knowledge science and scientific-based methods of research can make the right decisions.
Research scope and budget should be increased. We need to ensure the proper and successful use of the budget that is allocated in the health sector of our country. Today public health is neglected due to lack of proper dissemination and application of research findings through knowledge of practice. Public health is not limited to medicine. It is a comprehensive concept that encompasses all aspects of basic human right to health. It is related to the conditions of people's dwellings i.e. social science starting from environmental conditions i.e. environmental science the presence and density of various disease vectors in the environment i.e. entomology the science of disease-causing organisms carried by that vector i.e. viruses, bacteria, parasites etc. or, microbiology, mycology, parasitology, population dynamics, anthropology, biostatistics etc.
Therefore, it is the excellent combination of medicine and so many subjects in public health that ensures the good health of the people. Along with the development of public health, the development of manpower and infrastructure for good health care is the development of health.
Consolidating this continuum is the main objective of the health sector. A malnourished person as such can never have proper immunity. No matter how many medicines a person takes from a polluted and unhealthy environment, a patient suffering from asthma or pneumonia cannot remain healthy. An unsanitary environment increases the breeding ground of dengue-carrying Aedes mosquitoes, and a person can never be protected from dengue. So, in this terrible situation of the country, let's all come together to keep the environment clean, destroy the breeding ground of Aedes mosquito and save ourselves with a clean environment.
The writer is Professor and Head, Department of Entomology, National Institute of Preventive and Social Medicine, NIPSOM
