Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, May 9: Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh said here today that under the directions of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, this year a target has been set to reduce dengue cases by 80% as compared to last year by running an awareness campaign against dengue in the state. Last year, due to these efforts, 50% reduction in dengue cases was recorded.
Dr Balbir Singh, who arrived at Aam Aadmi Clinic in Phase 7, Mohali today to launch the anti-dengue awareness campaign 'Har Shukrwar Dengue Te Vaar' with the participation of nursing students, Asha workers, multipurpose health workers, doctors and other officials, said that under the anti-dengue awareness campaign, this time 20 lakh students of Punjab have been trained to identify the breeding of dengue mosquitoes and make them aware of the methods to eliminate them, the purpose of which is to protect their homes and schools from the breeding of dengue mosquitoes.
He said that apart from this, the Health Department has prepared a survey campaign to prevent dengue breeding with the help of about 1 lakh manpower. He said that since dengue mosquitoes are standing and are clean water mosquitoes, the people of the state should empty their coolers, back trays of refrigerators, old tyres, flower pots, water containers kept for feeding birds every week, due to which the larvae of dengue mosquitoes that breed in a week will automatically die.
He said that if we take this much responsibility in the beginning, then we can definitely avoid dengue fever. The Health and Family Welfare Minister described the doctors, paramedical workers, multipurpose health workers and Asha workers of the Health Department as an important part of the Health and Family Welfare Department of Punjab and said that their job is to protect the people from the enemy of dengue present inside their homes like the brave soldiers fighting on the borders of the country. He said that if we fulfill our responsibility with full devotion, then we can not only reduce the number of dengue cases but also save precious lives. Welcoming the action taken by the brave soldiers of the country to give a befitting reply to the forces supporting terrorism in the current situation in the country, he said that hospitals have been prepared to deal with any emergency in the state and night duty of medical staff has been increased. He said that just like our brave forces are neutralizing the drone attacks in the air on the country and Punjab, the doctors, paramedics and other staff of the Health and Family Welfare Department are committed to perform their duty with full devotion to deal with any kind of emergency.
He said that on the instructions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Health and Family Welfare Department is ready to deal with any kind of situation. On this occasion, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Urban Development) of the district Anmol Singh Dhaliwal, Director of Health and Family Welfare Department Dr. Hatinder Kaur, SDM Damandeep Kaur, Civil Surgeon Dr. Sangeeta Jain, SMO Dr. Preet Kanwal, Assistant Civil Surgeon Dr. Girish Dogra, District Epidemic Prevention Officer Dr. Anamika and Dr. Harman Brar along with a large number of nursing students, Asha workers and multipurpose health workers of the Health Department were present.
On this occasion, the breeding of dengue mosquitoes was checked at various places and spraying was done. People were made aware to observe Dry Day every Friday to protect themselves from dengue mosquitoes.