Health Minister launches anti-dengue drive, says 'army' deployed to combat mosquitoes
In an effort to curb the spread of dengue, Punjab Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh on Thursday led a statewide awareness campaign from Patiala, with health officials, civic staff and community members under the banner of 'National Dengue Day'. The campaign focused on eliminating mosquito breeding grounds and sensitising the public to the dangers of stagnant water in and around their homes.
The minister, accompanied by Health Department officials, civic body representatives and NGO members, launched the drive from Tripuri, one of the city's most densely populated localities. Speaking at Tanki Wala Chowk, Dr Singh said, “If you protect yourself from mosquito bites, you protect yourself from dengue.”
During the drive, officials collected water samples from residential areas, with dengue larvae found in several locations — including coolers, flower pots, bird bowls, refrigerator trays and household water storage containers. The team also inspected construction sites, tyre shops and rooftops, all common breeding grounds for the dengue-spreading Aedes aegypti mosquito.
“Dengue does not breed outside — it breeds inside our homes,” said Dr Singh. “Whether it is a cooler, a flower pot or even a bowl kept for birds, any place with stagnant water can become a breeding site. Our focus is to eliminate these hidden hotspots.”
“Just like the Indian Army, Air Force and the Navy defend our country from the nefarious designs of Pakistan, we have built an army within the Health Department to fight dengue,” he said. “ASHA workers are our infantry. They are supported by 50,000 trained nursing students and an equal number of paramedical staff, civil surgeons, epidemiologists and policy makers. Together, we are launching a coordinated battle to protect our people from dengue.”
