Declaring a war against the vector borne diseases, a dozen of Punjab Government’s departments, including Health, would battle against Dengue, Chikungunya and Malaria. The state Health Minister Brahm Mohindra on Friday issued instructions to the officials of these departments to tackle these on priority.
“There should be no laxity given in dealing with the outbreak of these diseases. All the concerned departments should focus on prevention and awareness about these diseases,” said Mohindra.
The Minister has also asked the Health Department to launch massive awareness drive through various mediums to educate the people so that these diseases do not start developing. Consistent campaigns should be conducted on the radio, mass media, bulk SMS, Cinemas, hand out, pamphlets to make people aware, he said.
Mohindra, chairing the meeting of state task force for the vector borne diseases, said that he would personally take up the matter with local Bodies Minister for ensuring smooth operations especially in the cities.
The local Bodies should also stress on spraying in collaboration with the Health Department before the season starts.
He also asked the Education Department to generate awareness among the general public through the school children by way of quiz competitions, lectures during the morning assemblies and giving the children a questionnaire regarding these diseases.
Even the school children of Classes IX and X should have special curriculum for these vector borne diseases.
The Transport Department was also instructed to arrange for proper covers wherever the stores of condemned tyres are there in Punjab because these are the main places of the breeding of Aedes mosquito, which is responsible for the dengue fever.
“These waste tyres should be immediately discarded and proper spray should be done to prevent the growth of the vector,” he said.
Mohindra also instructed Department of Rural Development and Panchayats to use the Gambusia fish in the ponds, spraying and sanitizing in the rural areas, and reporting by the medical officers in the rural areas.
Even the Indian Medical Association (IMA) should report the cases to the Health Department immediately so that the outbreak could be avoided by plugging the breeding place, he said.
He also asked the Department of Water Supply and Sanitation, Roadways, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, Medical Education and Research, labour and IMA to deal with the diseases in strict manner.
“In case of malaria, mostly cases are from the rural areas rather than urban while dengue is reported more in urban. There are 26 sentinel surveillance hospitals in the state providing free diagnostic facility for dengue and chikunguniya where tests for these diseases are also done free,” he said.
He added that supportive treatment for dengue is also given free in all the district level and sub division level hospitals. Dengue wards with mosquito nets have been established at each district, sub division, CHC, ESI hospital and medical colleges, he said adding that even blood component separators are also available in all the districts.
The Minister said that Punjab is the first state to introduce Malaria treatment cards. It is also the first state to launch an android mobile app “dengue free Punjab”, he added.