SAS Nagar, September 27:- Reiterating the commitment of Bhagwant Mann Government to keeping the people of Punjab hale and hearty, Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh on Friday joined students in the morning assembly at Government Girls Senior Secondary School Sohana to sensitise them about preventing dengue and other vector-borne diseases including Chikungunya and malaria diseases.
He emphasised that adhering to "Friday Dry Day" is crucial in preventing dengue and other vector-borne diseases like Chikungunya and malaria.
Addressing the students as a part of the ongoing campaign “Har Shukarwar, Dengue Te War, the Health and Family Minister said that students can help in prevention of this deadly disease better than the others by educating their parents about dry day activities. He asked them to help their parents to destroy the dengue larvae from the vulnerable spots at their homes including desert coolers, refrigerator trays, flower pots, other vessels, etc by cleaning the stagnant water once a week on Friday. The students and teachers were apprised of the dengue larvae also.
       Apprising the students of the importance of meditation, he urged them to perform this practice at home and morning assemblies once in a while to freshen their minds and avoid mobiles other than educational activities.
       Dr Balbir Singh said that the Health and Family Welfare Department will start educating the students of class 8th onwards in schools about health education, life skills, personal hygiene and nasal bleeding issues so that they can resolve these petty health issues on their own besides assisting others.
      The Health Minister said that though the state government has all arrangements for blood banks, blood components and beds to take care of dengue patients but prevention is the best cure. He warned that severe dengue fever can lead to fatal haemorrhage, emphasising the need for awareness about dengue larvae risks.
Making the residents in the surroundings of the school aware of the dengue larvae, the Health Minister said that educating the people through IEC activities is better than treatment and residents should identify all the vulnerable spots at their homes and surrounding where water could be stagnated and ensure to clean in it once in a week. He also visited several house in the slum area surrounding the School to educate the residents.
       He asked the ADC (UD) Damanjit Singh Mann to develop the village pond as a fitness centre by rejuvenating the existing pond and setting up a walking track around it.
        Dr Balbir Singh said that the count of dengue patients is 264 this time in Mohali which is much more less than the previous year thanks to the various efforts and precautionary measures taken to educate the residents in preventing dengue. He stressed to be careful about the stagnant water to prevent dengue larvae.
       The officers present during the visit of Health and Family Welfare Minister included Director Health Services (Family Welfare) Dr. Jasminder, ADC (UD) Damanjit Singh Mann, SDM Mohali Damanjit Kaur, Joint Commissioner MC Mohali Deepankar Garg, State Program Officer (NVBDCP) Dr Arshdeep Kaur, DIO Mohali Dr Girish Dogra and District Epidemiologist Dr Haramandeep Kaur.