TIB terms dengue a lack of transparency

Staff Reporter  :
Due to lack of a coordinated roadmap, inadequate preparedness, transparency and accountability of the concerned departments, the dengue situation across the country, including Dhaka, is creating a serious public health crisis and hinders its prevention, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) said on Saturday.

Meanwhile, in the last 24-hour, more than eight hundred dengue infected patients, especially children, have been admitted to the city’s Mugda Medical College and Hospital.
Hospital sources said that authorities are failing to provide adequate seats for the patients and most of them are now huddling on the floor, where treatment facilities have become hard to provide.

The same condition is prevailing in almost all the hospitals and clinics in the big cities and the capital where patients are spilling over, and going out of the control.
Meanwhile, TIB believes that the lack of transparency and accountability, irregularities, corruption, and ineffective programmes in relevant departments and large city corporations are hindering dengue prevention efforts.

Referring to its research report titled “Good Governance Challenges and Way Out in Mosquito Control and Dengue Prevention” in Dhaka City published on September 25, 2019, TIB has recommended 15 points for Dhaka North and South City Corporations and all stakeholders, urging them to urgently adopt an integrated roadmap for dealing with the present situation and to declare it as a “national public health crisis”.

In a statement, TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman expressed concern over the alarming situation, stating that although there was a national alert message, the initiatives taken by the two city corporations in Dhaka for dengue prevention were disappointing.

The above-mentioned research-based policy brief highlighted the need for long-term planning and coordinated efforts, involving relevant experts, to combat dengue, he said.
“The lack of such initiatives by the authorities is highly criticised, and the limited efforts seen were insufficient considering the gravity of the situation. The question arises as to how much the government actually focused on preventing the decline of the dengue situation in the capital,” he stressed.
“To ensure the use of environment friendly methods and discard the dependency on profit-oriented insecticides for mosquito control, the two city corporations must undertake coordinated programmes with the Health Department,” he said.

In light of the experience with the Covid crisis, relevant experts should be involved in forming advisory panels and regular programme management based on their recommendations, TIB said.
The organisation also stated that planning and implementation of year-long programme by utilising environment friendly methods for mosquito control and breeding site management should be carried out.

Additionally, awareness and effective dissemination of information regarding Aedes mosquitoes, their larvae, dengue disease control, and prompt treatment through all possible means, should be disseminated through all means including social media platform.
In addition to mosquito control, ensuring community engagement through coordination with relevant stakeholders, formation of volunteer teams based on local areas, and provision for appropriate training are essential on an urgent basis.

In this regard, opportunities should be provided to involve Red Crescent volunteers and other enthusiastic voluntary organisations, the statement said.
TIB said that the dengue is spreading not only in the capital city, but throughout the country, and the number of deaths is increasing.
Calling it a ‘national public health crisis’, Iftekharuzzaman urges for urgent and coordinated initiatives from a national level to effectively address the situation.
“Concerted actions should be taken for mosquito control and breeding site management in the city corporations and municipalities outside Dhaka. Additionally, public awareness and engagement in dengue prevention should be amplified,” he pointed out.