In light of the more than 21,000 dengue cases among children under the age of 15 that have been documented, UNICEF is stepping up its assistance to the government of Bangladesh in its efforts to control the dengue outbreak there.
UNICEF is providing USD 2.25 million worth of urgently required testing kits, professional training, along with other crucial supplies and services in the health and water, sanitation, and hygiene sectors in order to safeguard children and address the public health emergency.
In total, 64 districts are presently affected by the dengue outbreak. Dengue cases have been documented in more than 112,000 people, 20% of whom are children under the age of 15, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. There have been more than 500 deaths attributed to dengue.
Climate change is accelerating the spread of vector-borne diseases like dengue, directly affecting the lives of both children and adults in a year when the number of climate-related disasters around the world has increased.
“Once again, children in Bangladesh are at the frontlines of climate change as the dengue crisis here escalates,” said Mr Sheldon Yett, UNICEF Representative to Bangladesh.
“The Government of Bangladesh is undertaking a timely and effective response to the ongoing dengue situation in the country. The need of the hour is for the communities to ensure that mosquitoes do not breed in their houses and take all precautionary measures to ward away mosquitoes,’ said Prof. Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam, Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services. He also added that “we are providing testing kits, medical supplies, mosquito nets, and we are also working with the city corporation and relevant bodies to eliminate vector breeding sites.”
Among other measures, UNICEF is supporting the Government in engaging communities and raising awareness about dengue prevention and taking necessary preventive measures. UNICEF has mobilised religious and community leaders to influence people with actionable information to reduce the spread of dengue. Disseminating information at mass gatherings and through social media, UNICEF has assisted the Government in reaching over 50 million people with messages about protection from dengue in the last one month.
UNICEF is also working together with partners to support the Government with critical medical supplies, including kits with 13,400 tests, building capacities of staff, providing technical advice, and implementing actions such as campaigns to clean up breeding sites in select areas.
