Dengue awareness drive at Saloh school

Under the guidance of Civil Surgeon Dr Gurinderjeet Singh, the mass media wing conducted a special dengue awareness session today at the Government High Smart School, Saloh. The event aimed not only to inform students and staff about dengue prevention but also to empower them with the practical knowledge to identify mosquito larvae.

Deputy Mass Education and Information Officer Tarsem Lal led the session with the support of the school’s head teacher. Emphasising the importance of proactive health education, Lal introduced the concept of observing every Friday as ‘Dry Day’ — a practice that encouraged regular removal of stagnant water from the surroundings to prevent mosquito breeding.

The team conducted a live demonstration by inspecting plant pots on the school campus, where they successfully identified mosquito larvae. Students and teachers were taught how to recognise and eliminate these larvae both at school and in their homes. “Where there is stagnant water, malaria and dengue-carrying mosquitoes will breed,” Lal warned.

Lal also explained the common symptoms of dengue, including high fever, headache, joint and muscle pain, skin rashes, pain behind the eyes and bleeding from gums or the nose. He stressed that dengue mosquitoes bred in clean, stagnant water—making it critical to prevent water accumulation in coolers, flower pot trays, and open containers.

To further reduce the risk of the diseases, he advised wearing full-sleeved clothing, especially during early morning and evening hours when dengue mosquitoes were most active. He also recommended using mosquito repellents, nets and anti-mosquito creams and oils to prevent bites.

Also, encouraging students to adopt a healthy lifestyle, he motivated them to engage in sports activities and highlighted the Daily Morning Football Club in Nawanshahr as a positive outlet for youth.

The programme saw enthusiastic participation and support from both school staff and the local community. Teachers, including Sukhwinder Kaur, Davinder Singh, Manjit Kaur and others, played an active role in coordinating the awareness drive. Students and villagers also pledged their cooperation, recognising the shared responsibility in combating the spread of dengue.