Masud Rana, Barishal

Mosquito infestation has increased in Barishal city. Residents are worried about mosquito infestation. People have to keep mosquito nets or coils burning even in broad daylight.

Residents complain that the city corporation is spraying mosquito repellent, but it is not killing mosquitoes. On the other hand, the city corporation is claiming that the Barisal City Corporation is working to control mosquitoes. On the contrary, they are asking the residents to come forward to protect themselves from mosquitoes. The organization responsible for keeping the residents comfortable by killing mosquitoes is trying to atone for its responsibility by advising the residents to be aware.

The Barishal City Corporation authorities are reluctant to accept the accusation of using low-quality mosquito repellent. The organization is saying that they are working regularly to kill mosquitoes. Mosquito spray and fogger machines are being used to spray medicine in four wards of Barisal city as a rule. The medicine being used to kill mosquitoes is completely effective. There is no problem with this medicine. Mosquito infestation is increasing due to the ignorance of the city dwellers. Garbage is being thrown everywhere. The BCC CEO commented that there is a lack of sincerity on the part of the city dwellers in this regard.

Although admitting that the mosquito infestation has increased in the city, the health officer of Barisal City Corporation has claimed that the medicine being used to kill mosquitoes is killing mosquitoes. He claimed that 90 percent of the mosquito larvae are being killed by the application of this medicine.

In this regard, Khandaker Manjurul Islam Shuvro, health officer of Barisal City Corporation, said, it is true that the mosquito infestation has increased somewhat in the city. We have started intensive monitoring at the field level to relieve the city dwellers from this pain. The health officer also said, our activities are ongoing in four wards every day. After giving mosquito medicine, larvicide is used to kill mosquito larvae. In this, mosquitoes die and float away. About 90 percent of the larvae are dying. Later, mosquito killing activities were further intensified through fogger machines.

It has been found that last year, about 2,500 people were infected with mosquito-borne dengue in Barisal district. Of these, 45 died while admitted to Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital. So far this year, 44 people have been infected with dengue. No deaths have occurred so far.

Talking to local residents, it is known that mosquito infestation has increased in all 30 wards of Barisal city, which has an area of 58 square kilometers. The city residents are fed up with this. They have to keep mosquito nets or coils burning day and night to avoid mosquitoes. They are facing losses due to this.

Many people complain that mosquitoes are increasing day by day due to the city corporation not cleaning garbage and drains. Besides, the mosquito repellents that are being given are not killing the mosquitoes, but are instead entering the houses.

The city residents complain that sometimes the people of the City Corporation come to spray mosquito repellents. But the mosquitoes do not die. On the contrary, the mosquitoes from outside enter the houses, which increases the pain. Coils and mosquito nets have to be pulled up even in daylight. Children are suffering from various mosquito-borne diseases due to mosquitoes.

The City Corporation needs to increase its surveillance. Large piles of garbage and waste can be seen in different areas of Barisal city even during the day. Due to the fact that garbage and waste are not removed on time, mosquito larvae are being born. Mosquito larvae are floating in the small amount of water in the city's drains. The city residents believe that if the mosquitoes cannot be killed quickly, the mosquito infestation may increase further during the rainy season. They claim that the medicine being sprayed by the City Corporation is not effective in killing mosquitoes. If not, there is a problem with the medicine.

According to BCC sources , the number of spray machines and fogger machines has been increased compared to before for mosquito control. Currently, the City Corporation is conducting mosquito control activities through 18 fogger machines and 60 hand spray machines. Four doctors from the City Corporation are working at the field level to see the effectiveness of the medicine.

Representatives of civil society say that a mosquito festival is going on in Barisal city. Sometimes I see the BCC spraying medicine. After giving the medicine, the mosquitoes leave the drain and go to the houses. I think that the mosquito medicine given by the City Corporation is not being mixed properly. Otherwise, the quality of the medicine is very poor. Otherwise, why don't the mosquitoes die!

Barishal City Corporation Chief Executive Officer Md. Rezaul Bari said, currently we can apply mosquito medicine in four wards at the same time. Doctors have tested the medicine we are giving at the field level. There is no problem with this medicine. There will be an appeal to city dwellers not to throw garbage anywhere. In this regard, city dwellers need to be more aware.