Health Minister finds dengue larvae at houses in New Kailash Nagar

In a surprise move, Health Minister Balbir Singh on Friday took the lead and conducted the inspection of every home in street number 1 of New Kailash Nagar here under the ongoing ‘Har Shukarwar Dengue te Vaar’ campaign’.

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The minister along with Civil Surgeon Ramandeep Kaur and health teams identified dengue larvae in desert coolers, flower pots, water containers, fridge trays, tank water and water storage containers. During his visit, he sensitised residents to the importance of cleaning and drying such items every Friday to prevent mosquito breeding.

He said these were critical breeding grounds for Aedes mosquito and regular cleaning was essential to stop dengue. He also urged them to wear full-sleeve shirts as an additional protective measure against the mosquito which usually bites during the daytime.

The minister highlighted state-wide efforts under the campaign, noting that 20,000 ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers are actively inspecting homes across the state every Friday. These workers are tasked with identifying dengue larvae and making communities aware on preventive steps, such as eliminating stagnant water and maintaining hygiene in and around households.

He said these concerted efforts were part of a broader goal to reduce dengue cases by 90 per cent this year, following a 50 per cent reduction achieved last year as compared to previous years.

To further strengthen the campaign, Dr Singh also mentioned that school teachers across the state are being trained to educate students about dengue prevention. The initiative aims to mobilise an army of 20 lakh school students to spread awareness and assist in controlling the disease. Additionally, every village in the state has established a health committee with 15 members each, who are receiving training on identifying and eliminating dengue larvae, ensuring a grassroots-level response to the public health challenge.

Later, Dr Singh also visited the home of a family that had lost a member to Covid-19. He offered condolences, encouraged the family to adhere to isolation guidelines and assured them of the government’s unwavering support.

Addressing the current Covid situation, the minister reported that only three cases had been reported in the state till date, stressing that there was no cause for concern.

He added that the situation was completely normal and the state was fully equipped with adequate infrastructure, including oxygen, medicines, beds and all necessary resources,” he reassured.

The minister also advised immunocompromised individuals and those having ailments such as cancer, kidney-related diseases, high BP or respiratory issues to wear masks when stepping outside as a precautionary measure. He underscored the importance of vigilance while affirming the state’s preparedness to handle any health challenge.

The minister concluded by calling on the public to join hands in these efforts.

“Through collective action and adherence to preventive measures, we can protect our communities from dengue and Covid,” he added.