Chikungunya can be prevented if people are more aware and keep their surroundings clean, Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammad Nasim said today.

To raise awareness on chikungunya, the minister inaugurated an awareness campaign in Dhaka today, which started at 9:00am and will continue till 2:00pm in the city.

Organised by Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) in association with the two Dhaka city corporations, the campaign will reach out to people in 92 wards under north and south two city corporations in the capital.

To raise awareness on chikunguniya, Health Minister inaugurated an awareness campaign in Dhaka on June 17,2017, which started at 9:00am and will continue till 2:00pm in the city. Photo: Abdullah Al Nayeem

Along with that around 10,000 students of medical and dental colleges and health technology institutes are conducting a social awareness campaign on chikungunya.

"It is a symbolic campaign to encourage people and create awareness on this issue. If we keep our surroundings clean and remove stagnant water, then aedes mosquitoes will not breed," he said. 

"Chikungunya can be cured by taking Paracetamol, drinking water and taking adequate rest but if you take preventive measures then you will not have to suffer from this disease," Nasim.

"All the cases of chikungunya have been reported in Dhaka, thus we are focusing the campaign in Dhaka," Director General of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Abul Kalam Azad said.

However, the announcements have been made over loudspeaker at upazila level to create awareness among people, the DG said.