Dengue deaths have decreased due to advance preparation: Health State Minister

He said these things at a policy dialogue titled ‘Climate Change and Health System Resilience’ organized by the Knowledge Hub Institute at the BRAC Inn Centre in Mohakhali, Dhaka, on Thursday (October 29) morning. At the event, Khondaker Golam Moazzem, President of Knowledge Hub, presented a report titled ‘Multidimensional Health Impacts of Climate Change in Bangladesh’.

The State Minister said that analysis of data on dengue infections and deaths shows that the number of deaths among women is higher than among men. Behind this, alongside medical reasons, there are also social reasons. In many cases, women’s illness is given less importance. As a result, treatment is delayed and their physical condition deteriorates before they reach the hospital.

He further said that reviewing dengue deaths shows that many patients come to the hospital more than three days after becoming ill. Due to delayed treatment, the patient's condition becomes serious. Therefore, it is important to increase awareness about seeking treatment quickly when symptoms of illness appear.

Highlighting the importance of early warning measures to tackle dengue, the State Minister said that preparations had been taken from July-August based on disease forecasts and related information. As a result, in addition to ensuring the supply of necessary equipment and saline, it has been possible to start public awareness activities in advance.

He also emphasized building effective early warning systems to tackle heatwave- and humidity-related health risks caused by climate change. In this regard, he called on the Ministry of Health, along with the Meteorological Department, research institutions and other ministries, to work in a coordinated manner. He also spoke about the need to collect and analyze separate data for vulnerable populations such as women, children, older persons and persons with disabilities.

The State Minister asked researchers and relevant institutions to take initiatives to generate necessary data and evidence within the next six to eight months and present it to policymakers within the following two to three months. According to him, if an integrated plan can be adopted based on research-based data, tackling climate change-related health risks will be more effective.

At the event, Khondaker Golam Moazzem, President of Knowledge Hub, said that 1,705 people died of dengue in the country in 2023, 575 in 2024 and 412 in 2025. The report said that although about two-thirds of dengue patients admitted to hospitals are from outside Dhaka, 57 to 64 percent of deaths occur in hospitals in Dhaka city.