WB to provide $100m to control dengue

Health Minister Zahid Maleque yesterday said the World Bank (WB) will provide Bangladesh with $100 million to control the mosquito-borne disease dengue that killed more than 500 people this year.

He made the announcement while briefing journalists after a meeting with the Word Bank representatives at the Secretariat in Dhaka.

The minister said, "Dengue should be brought under control. The World Bank will provide $100 million to control dengue. They will provide this fund to the Ministry of Local Government to control mosquitoes."

Moreover, an amount of $700 million will be given for Rohingyas and the host community for the use of infrastructures and services, he said adding that the budget will get approved in the Board Meeting at the end of August.

Addressing the need for escalating activities by city corporations and municipalities to handle dengue, he said 500 people have died of dengue as the situation could not be brought under control.

Urging all to behave responsibly, the minister said the death and number of dengue patients would not decrease if mosquitoes do not come under control.

The World Bank will also provide assistance to Bangladesh in developing a coronavirus vaccine, he added.

The minister said that Bangladesh received a financing commitment.

Bangladesh has received a commitment of $300 million from Asian Development Bank to build a vaccine manufacturing plant in the country.

"We'll ask for more, if necessary," Malek said.

The minister also said that $27 billion will be needed in five years to make the vaccine.

"Of this, the Government of Bangladesh will arrange $22 billion. We need $5 billion in multisectoral funding."

"They already committed $2- 2.5 billion. They will gradually manage the rest over the next five years," Zahid Maleque said.