Punjab Fully Prepared to Tackle Dengue, COVID-19, and Heatwave Cases: Dr. Balbir Singh

Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Balbir Singh has said that the state is fully geared up to deal with Dengue, COVID-19, and the ongoing heatwave. He emphasized that the Health Department is actively educating the public about preventive measures to tackle vector-borne diseases and weather-related health risks.

As part of his continued efforts to lead awareness campaigns on public health, Dr. Balbir Singh visited Balongi, a semi-urban village near Mohali, on Friday under the state-wide drive titled “Har Shukkarvaar, Dengue Te Vaar.” The Minister personally interacted with residents, visiting households and demonstrating how common water containers — such as air cooler tanks, refrigerator trays, flower pots, and bird water vessels — can become breeding grounds for Dengue larvae.

“Dengue, Malaria, and Chikungunya are preventable diseases. We just need to ensure that stagnant water is emptied once a week, especially on Fridays. Since the Dengue mosquito takes seven days to mature from larvae to adult, we can effectively break the cycle with this simple habit,” he explained.

During the visit, Dr. Balbir Singh awarded cash prizes of Rs 500 each to ASHA workers Sompreet Kaur and Saroj for identifying mosquito larvae in a cooler tank. He informed that over 50,000 field teams — including nursing students, multipurpose health workers, breeder checkers, and school teachers — are mobilized every Friday for door-to-door checks and community education.

Interacting with the media, the Minister highlighted last year’s success where awareness efforts halved the number of Dengue cases. “This year, we aim to achieve an 80% reduction,” he stated. Dr. Balbir Singh also addressed the growing threat of heatwaves, advising people to avoid outdoor exposure during peak afternoon hours (12 PM to 3 PM). He recommended wearing light-colored clothing, covering the head with a wet cloth, and staying hydrated with fluids like lemon water, lassi, jaljeera, and salt water to prevent dehydration.

On the COVID-19 situation, the Minister said that although there has been a spike in neighboring states like Delhi and Haryana, Punjab has recorded only 31 mild, asymptomatic cases so far. Two reported deaths involved patients with co-morbid conditions and cannot be conclusively attributed to COVID-19. “We advise avoiding closed-door gatherings and prefer well-ventilated spaces. 

Our health facilities are well-equipped with oxygen supplies, essential medicines, and emergency beds,” he added.Dr. Balbir Singh urged extra caution for vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, children, senior citizens, and individuals with low immunity.

He was accompanied by Dr. Hatinder Kaur, Director of Health and Family Welfare, Punjab; SDM Damandeep Kaur; Civil Surgeon Dr. Sangita Jain; Dr. Arshdeep Kaur, State Programme Officer (NVBDCP); District Epidemiologists Dr. Anamika Soni and Dr. Harman Brar; along with nursing students, ASHA workers, multipurpose health staff, and the village Panchayat. The Minister also directed the SDM to ensure proper cleanliness of the village pond.