Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain has warned that dengue is no longer an ordinary disease but a serious national challenge. He emphasised that combating the crisis is not the sole responsibility of the Ministry of Health or hospitals, but requires active involvement from every citizen.
He made the remarks while inaugurating the first batch of the National Training of Trainers Programme on Clinical Management of Dengue at Shaheed Dr Milon Hall of Bangladesh Medical University (BMU) in the capital.
The programme was jointly organised by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, UNICEF Bangladesh, and the Bangladesh Society of Medicine.
Highlighting the limitations of cleanliness drives led by city corporations and district administrations, he said: “Mosquitoes can fly up to 200 metres and enter homes through any opening. Every drain, pond, waterlogged area, and swamp must be cleared to win the ‘total fight’ against dengue. No single organisation or individual can tackle this crisis; coordinated national action is essential.”
On vaccination, the minister noted that while dengue immunisation is under consideration, it is extremely costly and difficult to implement.
“Extensive vaccination would require a huge budget, and if needed every four months, it would put tremendous pressure on the national health budget. Prevention must be prioritised over treatment,” he said.
He also identified common breeding grounds for Aedes mosquitoes, including puddles of rainwater, garage wash areas, abandoned tyres, unused cans, and drains, affecting both urban and rural areas.
Addressing doctors, he stressed that while prevention cannot be fully guaranteed, proper treatment is critical.
“The most important factor in dengue patient care is timely detection of plasma leakage,” he said, urging careful monitoring to identify when a patient’s condition becomes critical.
The minister added that the government is ensuring the availability of necessary equipment for dengue treatment nationwide. The workshop was chaired by Mohammad Monir-uz-Zaman, convener of the Bangladesh Society of Medicine, with Bangladesh Medical University Vice-Chancellor FM Siddiqui as a distinguished guest.
UNICEF Bangladesh Health Manager Riyad Mahmud and Director of Disease Control Md Halimur Rashid coordinated the programme, with remarks from Health Directorate Director General Prabhat Chandra Biswas.
FM Siddiqui called for continuous vigilance in dengue patient care, recommending regular CBC tests and monitoring plasma leakage, as unchecked leakage could lead to fatal shock. Mohammad Monir-uz-Zaman said that this year a “pro-active” approach has been adopted, focusing on preventive measures before outbreaks escalate.
He added that dengue has now become a year-round public health threat in Bangladesh. The current training is part of a structured three-month national dengue prevention and control programme led by the Ministry of Health, reflecting proactive, sustainable, and clinically robust measures to combat the disease.
Future batches of the Training of Trainers will include doctors from private medical colleges and corporate hospitals. Continuous training at divisional and district levels will ensure evidence-based, high-quality dengue management reaches all levels of the health system.
