State saw 70% drop in dengue cases: Minister
Punjab Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh today said the state had witnessed around 70 per cent reduction in dengue cases this season. In Jalandhar, 79 dengue cases — 56 in urban areas and 23 in rural areas — have been reported this season.
He attributed the success to the state’s intensified anti-dengue campaign. Addressing students at School of Eminence in Bhargav Camp, the Minister stressed the impact of the ongoing “Har Shukarvaar Dengue Teh Vaar” drive, a weekly awareness campaign launched by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann.
The Minister was also joined by Deputy Commissioner Dr Himanshu Aggarwal. The overwhelming support from residents and various departments in the fight against dengue was also highlighted on the occasion. Balbir Singh also addressed students at the Bhargav Camp (locally known as Bhargo camp) school.
Meanwhile, the accompanying health teams collected water samples and inspected sites for the presence of mosquito larvae through the serpentine streets of the locality. Holding up a bottle containing mosquito larvae at a Jalandhar home, the Minister informed the residents about the dangers of mosquito larvae.
Only five mosquito larvae were detected during the inspections. The Minister urged residents to participate in the weekly anti-dengue drive by cleaning storage tanks and preventing water stagnation near their houses.
The Health Minister said the government’s comprehensive strategy, encompassing efforts from ASHA workers to senior officials, had contributed to an extraordinary outcome — only one death had been reported due to dengue so far. He said, “On Fridays, officials across ranks visit communities, spreading awareness on vector-borne diseases.”
He further announced plans to train Punjab’s 20 lakh students in dengue prevention and other life-saving skills, ensuring that every Class XII passout and graduate is equipped with essential first-aid knowledge and non-communicable disease prevention skills. Singh later visited the Civil Hospital, Jalandhar, presiding over a meeting with the administration and staff at the hospital.
