Punjab health and family welfare minister Dr Balbir Singh has assured that the state is fully prepared to deal with the threats posed by dengue, COVID-19 and the ongoing heatwave.
Under the statewide ‘Har Shukkarvaar, Dengue Te Vaar’ campaign, Dr Singh visited Balongi, a semi-urban village near Mohali, on Friday. During the visit, he interacted with residents, demonstrating how everyday water containers — such as air cooler tanks, refrigerator trays, flower pots and bird water vessels — can serve as breeding grounds for dengue mosquitoes.
He emphasised that the health department is educating the public on preventive measures to mitigate the risks of vector-borne diseases and weather-related health complications.
“Dengue, malaria and chikungunya are entirely preventable. By ensuring that stagnant water is emptied once a week, especially on Fridays, we can break the mosquito breeding cycle. Dengue mosquito takes seven days to mature from larvae to adult, so this small step can make a big difference,” he said.
Recognising field efforts, Dr Singh awarded cash prizes of ₹500 each to ASHA workers Sompreet Kaur and Saroj for detecting mosquito larvae in a cooler tank. He informed that over 50,000 field teams, including nursing students, multi-purpose health workers, breeder checkers and school teachers, are mobilised every Friday for door-to-door inspections and community sensitisation.
{{/usCountry}}Recognising field efforts, Dr Singh awarded cash prizes of ₹500 each to ASHA workers Sompreet Kaur and Saroj for detecting mosquito larvae in a cooler tank. He informed that over 50,000 field teams, including nursing students, multi-purpose health workers, breeder checkers and school teachers, are mobilised every Friday for door-to-door inspections and community sensitisation.
{{/usCountry}}Speaking to the media, Dr Singh highlighted the success of last year’s campaign, which led to a 50% reduction in dengue cases. “This year, we aim to reduce dengue incidences by 80%. With public cooperation, this is achievable,” he added.
Addressing the rising concern of heatwaves, the minister advised residents to avoid outdoor activities between 12 pm and 3 pm. He recommended wearing light-coloured clothing, using wet cloths to cover the head and staying hydrated with fluids like lemon water and salt water, to prevent dehydration.
On the COVID-19 front, he noted that while neighbouring states such as Delhi and Haryana have reported a rise in cases, Punjab has only recorded 31 mild, asymptomatic infections so far. He added that the two reported COVID-related deaths involved patients with co-morbidities and could not be definitively linked to the virus. “We urge people to avoid closed-door gatherings and prefer well-ventilated areas. Our healthcare infrastructure is fully equipped with oxygen supplies, essential medicines and emergency beds,” he said.