Early prep lowered dengue deaths: State Minister

Advance preparation, disease forecasting, and timely supply of essential medical equipment and saline have significantly reduced dengue mortality rates in Bangladesh, State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Prof Dr MA Muhit said on Thursday (October 29).

Speaking as the chief guest at a policy dialogue titled "Climate Change and Health System Resilience," organized by the Knowledge Hub Institute at the BRAC Inn Centre in Mohakhali, the State Minister emphasized that data-driven planning and early public awareness campaigns yielded positive outcomes in managing the crisis.

Analyzing dengue mortality data, the State Minister noted that female fatalities surpassed male deaths, attributing the trend to both medical complexities and social factors, where women's illnesses are frequently overlooked, leading to delayed hospitalization and critical complications.

A review of dengue-related deaths revealed that many patients arrived at hospitals more than three days after falling ill, creating severe treatment challenges due to advanced physical deterioration prior to admission.

Highlighting the importance of early warning systems, the State Minister stated that preparations began as early as July and August based on predictive data, ensuring uninterrupted supply chains for salines and crucial equipment while allowing policy makers to initiate timely preventive measures.

He further stressed the need for integrated efforts involving the Health Ministry, the Meteorological Department, and research institutions to tackle climate-induced health hazards, advocating for dedicated data collection focusing on vulnerable groups including women, children, elderly persons, and individuals with disabilities.

Presenting the keynote paper titled "Multidimensional Health Impacts of Climate Change in Bangladesh," Knowledge Hub President Khondaker Golam Moazzem revealed that dengue claimed 1,705 lives in 2023, 575 in 2024, and 412 in 2025, adding that while two-thirds of hospitalized patients were outside Dhaka, 57 to 64 percent of total deaths occurred in Dhaka hospitals.

-EM