Health & Family Welfare Minister, Balbir Singh Sidhu today flagged off two special awareness vans under non-communicable diseases (NCD) program at the Government Dispensary in Sohana.On this occasion Health Minister stated that many initiatives have been taken to improve the health services to realize the dream of Punjab Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh to make Punjab a Healthy state as well as to fight out the COVID 19 Pandemic. As part of this awareness campaign on non-communicable diseases, 2 special awareness vans have been fabricated, in which awareness material has been displayed along with the LED and audio-visual address system. These vans would reach out to different villages of Punjab to make the people aware of non-communicable diseases like diabetes, blood pressure, heart diseases, paralysis, cancer, etc.He added that blood pressure and diabetes tests would be done free of cost in these vans. Health Minister exhorted that elderly people and patients already suffering from any non-communicable disease are at greater risk of COVID. He appealed to the people of Punjab to make the most of this campaign and be aware of non-communicable diseases so that these diseases could be prevented.
Balbir Singh Sidhu said that he has sent special letters to the patients suffering from high blood pressure and diabetes in which he has appealed them to take all preventive measures and get timely treatment during the COVID 19 pandemic. He said that in order to avoid non-communicable diseases, fast food, unhygienic street foods, alcohol, tobacco and other drugs should be avoided, and weight should be controlled with the help of daily physical exercise. At the same time routine medical check-up should be get done from time to time. Diabetes and Blood Pressure Tests and treatment are provided free of cost in all the Government Hospitals in the State. He said for Cancer patients, treatment of up to Rs. 1.50 lakh is being provided free of cost under the Chief Minister Punjab Cancer Relief Fund. On this occasion Director Health Services Dr. Manjit Singh, Civil Surgeon S.A.S. Nagar (Mohali) Dr. GB Singh, State Program Officer-NPCDCS Dr. Sandeep Singh and Chairman Market Committee cum Director Cooperative Bank S.A.S. Nagar Sh Harkesh Chand Sharma were especially present. Other officers present on the occasion included State Immunization Officer Dr. Balwinder Kaur, District Immunization Officer Dr Veena Jarewal, State Program Officer (IEC & PR) Shivinder Sehdev, and District Mass Media Officer Harcharan Singh Brar.