Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Brahm Mohindra today instructed officials concerned to tackle vector borne diseases on priority basis.
"There should be no laxity in dealing with prevention of vector-borne diseases. All departments concerned should focus on prevention and spreading awareness about these diseases," he said.
Asking the departments concerned to launch an awareness drive through various medium to educate people about these diseases, Mohindra said consistent campaigns about it should be conducted on radio, cinema halls, and other mass media.
Chairing a meeting of the state task force for vector borne diseases here, the minister said he would take up the matter with the Local Bodies Minister to ensure smooth operations against these diseases, especially in cities.
He asked the education department to generate awareness among the people with the help of school children. Also, students of Class IX and X should have a special curriculum on vector borne diseases.
Mohindra asked the transport department to arrange for proper covers wherever discarded car tyres are stored because these places are the breeding grounds of Aedes mosquitoes, which is responsible for dengue.
He said most cases of malaria are reported from rural areas, while dengue is reported more in urban areas.
There are 26 sentinel surveillance hospitals in the state providing free diagnostic facility for dengue and chikunguniya, the minister said.
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