HC slams failure in timely procurement of mosquito repellents

The High Court on Monday observed that the government along with the two city corporations of Dhaka cannot shirk the responsibility for their failure to timely procure effective mosquito repellents to destroy Aedes mosquitoes, the vector of dengue virus, reports UNB. 

Mentioning that people are dying of this mosquito-borne disease, the court said it will pass its order on Wednesday on whether a judicial inquiry commission can be formed to look into who are responsible for the failure to procure mosquito repellents.

The HC bench of justice Tariq ul Hakim and justice Md Shohrowardi came up with the observation after receiving progress reports submitted by Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) on the procurement of effective medicine to kill mosquitoes.

Lawyer Sayeed Ahmed Raza stood for the DSCC and Toufiq Enam Tipu for DNCC while deputy attorney general Kazi Mainul Hasan and assistant attorney general Saira Fairoz represented the state.

Raza said two kinds of mosquito repellents brought from India are being sprayed in different areas of the city since 10 August.

Besides, a report provided by the local government ministry said the work to formulate a long-term plan to tackle dengue, chikunguniya and other mosquito-borne diseases is underway.

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) also informed the court that the number of dengue patients is coming down.

On 25 July, the High Court dubbed the existing dengue scenario in the country worrying.

On 22 July, it summoned the chief health officers of the two city corporations to appear before it on 25 July to explain their failure in controlling mosquitoes in the city.

On 16 July, the High Court had asked the authorities concerned to take effective measures within 24 hours to destroy Aedes mosquito for preventing the spread of dengue and chikonguniya.

According to the DGHS, 91 per cent dengue patients returned home from hospitals across the country after full recovery since 1 January last while a total of 64,765 patients were admitted to hospitals during the period and 59,030 of them were discharged after recovery.

In 24 hours till 8:00am on Monday, some 1,625 dengue patients left hospitals against the hospitalisation of 1,251.

Currently, 5,562 patients are being treated at different hospitals and clinics, according to the DGHS Health Emergency Operation Centre and Control Room.

Of them, 3,081 are taking treatment in Dhaka and 2,481 outside the capital.

The DGHS also raised the death toll from the mosquito-borne disease to 52 from Sunday's 47.