DSCC plans to bring dengue vaccine to Bangladesh

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Administrator Md Abdus Salam has said the government is giving top priority to treating dengue patients and will soon take steps to bring a dengue vaccine to Bangladesh.

“Dengue cannot be prevented through government efforts alone unless people become aware,” he said.
He made the remarks while addressing a shadow parliament session on “Measures to Prevent Dengue”, organised by Debate for Democracy (DFD) at the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC) in the capital on Friday.

DFD Chairman Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiran presided over the programme.
Salam said public awareness was essential to curbing the spread of dengue alongside government initiatives.

He also said a proposal would be submitted to the prime minister to use fines collected during dengue prevention drives to support the families of needy people who had died of the disease.

Identifying hawkers and auto-rickshaws as two major problems in the city, the DSCC administrator said discussions were underway with hawkers and auto-rickshaw drivers to address the issues.

Speaking at the programme, Kiran said dengue had become a year-round source of suffering, with its prevalence continuing to rise across the country.

“Dengue has become a year-round source of suffering, with its prevalence continuing to rise across the country,” he said.

Highlighting the difficulties faced by lower- and middle-income people, he said many were struggling to cover treatment costs while patients were being treated in hospital corridors and on floors.

Citing examples from developed countries, Kiran urged the government to introduce dengue vaccination as a preventive measure.

In the shadow parliament debate on “Public Awareness Is More Important Than Government Initiatives in Preventing Dengue”, the government team from Kabi Nazrul Government College defeated the opposition team from the same institution.