Surjit Kumar Jiyani, Health Minister, Punjab chaired a meeting of the State Task force today for involvement of other stake holder departments for prevention of Dengue and other communicable diseases. Meeting was co-chaired by Ms. Vini Mahajan, Principal Secretary Health and Sh Hussan Lal, Mission Director, National Health Mission, Punjab. Representatives from Departments of Local Bodies, Water Supply and Sanitation, Animal Husbandry & Fisheries, Rural Development & Panchayats participated in the meeting. Health Minister, Sh Surjit Kumar Jyani urged all the citizens of the State to ensure that there are no breeding places of mosquitoes and all coolers and containers of water are emptied and dried once a week. He emphasized that Friday of every week should be declared as Dry Day to clean and dry the water containers. He directed the officials of Department of Local Govt and Rural Development and Panchayats that during the transmission season, checking of households and offices be done and if breeding of mosquito is found, penalty should be imposed.
He said that head of the household and in-charge of the office will be challaned in case breeding of mosquitoes is found in their premises, respectively. He also asked the officials of Water Supply & Sanitation and Local Govt to ensure the supply of potable water and to ensure the necessary repair of the water pipes in order to avoid any outbreak of water borne disease. He instructed the concerned departments to ensure alternate water supply and chlorination of water in areas where outbreak of water borne disease is reported. Meanwhile the Minister also told the officials of Health Department to procure the necessary quantities of larvicides and insecticides and start the preparatory activities for dengue and malaria. It was decided to observe Friday as Dry Day in the State whereby coolers etc would be emptied, cleaned and dried to interrupt breeding.
Ms. Vini Mahajan said that the environment temperature has risen and hence the opportunity for breeding of mosquitoes has also increased. Moreover, some states in southern India have already reported a rise in dengue cases necessitating the State to start the preventive activities for dengue in the current season. It was informed that the number of cases of dengue were very high in 2015 due to early rains in the State leading to mosquito breeding. However, the death rate due to dengue remained less despite a high number of cases as people were reporting to health authorities early and proper care was being provided to the patients.Health Secretary further stated that the testing facility for dengue was available in all the districts of Punjab and tests of dengue and supportive treatment is provided free of cost to all the patients reporting in Govt hospitals. She added that the Department of Health has already notified dengue, making it mandatory for all private hospitals to report every case of dengue. Ms Mahajan added that 'gambusia' fish would be supplied to all the districts to be introduced in all the local ponds in order to prevent breeding at local level.During the meeting awareness material for public regarding dengue was released.The meeting was attended by Sh Vikas Garg, Special Secretary Health, Dr HS Bali Director Health Services, Punjab, Dr Usha Bansal Director Family Welfare, Punjab and Dr Gulshan Rai Director (SI), Punjab.