Chattogram Divisional Health Director Dr. Sheikh Fazle Rabbi has urged for enhanced surveillance to control the spread of mosquito-borne diseases, particularly dengue. Dengue has become a significant public health concern, and the Health Department is committed to ensuring the safety of Chattogram residents. Dr. Rabbi emphasized that achieving this goal requires greater public awareness and active community participation alongside government efforts. He made these remarks while addressing a coordination meeting on 'Strengthening the Dengue Surveillance System', organized in collaboration with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) at the office of the Divisional Health Director.
Dr. Rabbi noted that both the government and MSF are collaborating to address the dengue issue. An agreement has been established among the Chattogram City Corporation, Health Department, Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (CVASU), and MSF to combat vector-borne diseases. He reported that Aedes mosquito larvae are present in one out of every four homes within the Chattogram City Corporation area. In June, the dengue patient count in the Chattogram division reached 405, and by the second week of July, this figure had risen to 485. He expressed concerns that the dengue outbreak may escalate further during the monsoon season.
During the meeting, Chattogram Civil Surgeon Dr. Jahangir Alam stated that, in addition to government initiatives, collaborative efforts involving MSF and other NGOs are essential to effectively combat dengue. The meeting was facilitated by MSF Medical Team Leader Dr. Francisco Raul D. Salvador and Medical Liaison Officer Dr. Fatema Ferdousi, and included the participation of Chattogram Medical College Hospital Director Brigadier General Mohammad Taslim Uddin, BITID Director Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed, Deputy Director of the Divisional Health Director's Office Dr. Kamrul Azad, Acting Director of Chattogram General Hospital Dr. Md. Ekram Hossain, along with various officials from the Health Department, medical professionals, and representatives from development partner organizations.
