After Dhaka to find the source of Aedes mosquitoes, Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) is also using drones. This drone will be used to find the larvae of dengue-carrying Aedes mosquitoes in homes, office-court roof gardens and other sources.
On the first day on Sunday, the operation was conducted in Nasirabad Housing Society of the port city. A total of Tk 87 thousand were fined to 7 buildings. The rest of the building owners were warned. Leaflets were distributed among citizens to create awareness.
During the campaign, CCC Mayor Md Rezaul Karim Chowdhury said, “Today we observed the roofs of multi-storied buildings with drones and saw that water has accumulated on the roofs of almost all the buildings. I am calling everyone today and warning them, if they don’t remove the accumulated water later, we will take strict legal action with fines.”
A total of 435 vulnerable areas were identified and sprayed with larvicides and various mosquito killers. However, in this case, the water accumulated on the roof of some unaware house owners has become a big obstacle to success. Especially swimming pools and roof gardens have become safe havens for mosquitoes. Many home owners do not allow our workers to climb the roof citing safety reasons. We are spraying mosquito repellents in drains and drains but the residential buildings are becoming a major breeding ground for mosquitoes. So we are forced to monitor the roof with a drone.
Malaria and mosquito control wing of the agency identified 433 breeding sites of mosquitoes by surveying uncultivated land, drains and thickets, ponds, canals, ponds, abandoned houses in 41 wards of the city. CCC insists on spraying insecticides on hotspots of these breeding grounds. According to the CCC, the owners of the buildings in which the sources of Aedes mosquitoes will be found in the rooftop garden of the drone operation.
According to CCC sources, CCC will use 'DJI Mavic Air S2' model drone to find mosquitoes. It weighs 595 grams. The drone will have a 48 megapixel camera. This drone can take pictures or videos up to 100 meters above the ground. Besides, the drone can fly up to 3 kilometers around the one who controls the drone. The city corporation has to charge Tk 5,000 per day for the drone. The drone operation was targeted in 60 residential areas of the city.
During the campaign, CCC Mayor's Private Secretary and Chief Clean Officer Muhammad Abul Hashem said, "We are emphasizing on creating public awareness along with the 100-day crush program to reduce mosquito infestation." Today, 8 teams of Urban Volunteers and Red Crescent volunteers have been formed at 8 important points of the city, miking and distributing leaflets urging people to remove standing water from their houses and spraying mosquito repellent. At that time, the CCC special magistrate Manisha Mahajan fined the owners of 7 buildings a total of 87 thousand taka as mosquito larvae and habitat were found on the roof.
CCC Malaria and Mosquito Control Officer Md. Sharful Islam Mahi said that operations will be conducted gradually in a total of 60 residential areas of the city. He said that the manpower has been increased to make the crush program successful.
CCC Chief Executive Officer Sheikh Muhammad Tauhidul Islam, Councillor Md. Morshed Alam, Jasmin Parveen JC and other leaders of Nasirabad Housing Society Welfare Council were present.
Another 100-day crush program started on 22 June in front of Chattogram Nursing College in Chawkbazar Ward No. 41. The residents of the city have complained that the mosquito infestation has not come even after this program has been going on for about 17 days. It is also alleged that dengue outbreak is increasing in the city. In the first seven days of this July, 257 people have been diagnosed with dengue, said the Civil Surgeon's Office.
