'Dengue corners being set up at upazila hospitals'

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain on Monday said dengue corners are being set up at upazila health complexes across the country as part of the government's preparation to combat the disease in the coming season.

"We do not want to waste any time. We are making all-out preparation to combat dengue," he said while chairing a meeting on dengue preparedness at his ministry.

The minister said a field hospital has also been kept ready on the Dhaka Medical College Hospital premises to provide treatment for dengue patients. "If necessary, more field hospitals will be prepared in different parts of the country."

He said the Bangladesh Society of Medicine will provide comprehensive training, including treatment protocols, while UNICEF and several other organisations are also extending support.

"Work will begin tomorrow (Tuesday). Doctors and nurses will be trained in all seven divisions outside Dhaka as well as in districts across the country," Sakhawat said.

He said some essential supplies, including reagents, testing kits and fluid saline, are already in stock, while the government has decided to procure additional supplies in line with demand.

About mosquito breeding grounds, the minister said they have started working with the city corporations on the issue two months ago. The meeting also discussed the launch of a mobile application on dengue, said a PID handout.

 State Minister for Health Dr MA Muhit, Additional Secretary ATM Saiful Islam and Director General of the Directorate General of Health Service Prof Pravath Chandra Biswas, among others, attended the meeting.    �"UNB