Punjab Launches Statewide Anti-Dengue Campaign Led by Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh
In a proactive move to prevent the spread of dengue, Punjab Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh on Thursday spearheaded a statewide awareness campaign from Patiala as part of National Dengue Day. The initiative, supported by health officials, civic staff, NGOs, and community members, aims to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds and raise public awareness about the dangers of stagnant water around homes.
Launching the campaign in Tripuri, one of Patiala’s most densely populated areas, Dr Singh addressed residents at Tanki Wala Chowk. “If you protect yourself from mosquito bites, you protect yourself from dengue,” he said, urging people to take simple but critical preventive measures.
As part of the drive, health teams collected water samples from homes and identified dengue larvae in multiple locations such as air coolers, flower pots, bird bowls, refrigerator trays, and water storage containers. Officials also inspected high-risk areas like construction sites, tyre shops, and rooftops — all common breeding spots for the dengue-carrying Aedes aegypti mosquito.
“Dengue does not breed outside — it breeds inside our homes,” Dr Singh emphasized. “Even something as small as a bowl of water for birds can become a mosquito breeding site. Our mission is to identify and eliminate these hidden hotspots.”
Drawing a parallel to national defense, Dr Singh likened the anti-dengue campaign to a military operation. “Just like the Army, Air Force, and Navy protect our borders, we have created an army within the Health Department to combat dengue,” he said. “Our ASHA workers are the infantry, backed by 50,000 trained nursing students, an equal number of paramedical staff, civil surgeons, epidemiologists, and policy makers. Together, we are waging a coordinated battle to safeguard public health.”
The campaign marks a significant push by the state government to contain the seasonal spike in dengue cases through grassroots action, education, and active community participation.
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