DG directives not to bring dengue patients to Dhaka is a gross violation of human rights

Bangladesh recorded this year’s highest 3,122 single-day dengue hospitalisation in the past 24 hours until 8:00am on Sunday. During the period, 18 more people also died of dengue.

Including the latest, the death toll from the mosquito-borne viral disease in the country this year has reached 822, while hospitalisation with dengue has risen to 167,684 since January this year.

The DGHS reported that at least 10,437 patients were undergoing treatment with the dengue infection across the country, including 4,066 in the capital.

Earlier, Bangladesh recorded the highest 2,993 dengue hospitalization across the country on September 10.

Amid the situation the health service additional director general Ahmedul Kabir asked all concerned not to refer or bring dengue patients from districts to Dhaka.

In a virtual press conference, he explained that dengue treatment across the country was the same while the shifting posed additional risks to patients.

The DGHS record shows that dengue hospitalisation in the 37th week has increased by nine per cent while death has decreased by 10 per cent than the earlier 36th endemic week.

In the 37th week starting from September 6, Bangladesh recorded 19, 227 dengue hospitalisation which was 17,641 in the 36th endemic week.

A total of 566 dengue patients were hospitalised in January, 166 in February, 111 in March, 143 in April, 1,036 in May, 5,956 in June, 43,854 in July, and 71,976 in August, according to the DGHS press release.

In terms of both the dengue deaths and hospitalisation, this year broke all previous records.

The dengue outbreak was first officially reported in the country in 2000, when 5,551 people were hospitalised and 93 died.

The DG directive of barring dengue patients into Dhaka is a gross violation of human rights and a triumph to hide the real morbidity from the media attention.

Without equipping the country’s health sector to fight diseases and ensure healthcare, the sector leaders are busy in pleasing the political leaders.