Chandigarh: With cases of fever, diarrhoea, and skin infections rising in flood-affected districts, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday directed the Health and Family Welfare Department to step up efforts for diagnosis, treatment, and disease prevention.
Rising Health Concerns After Floods
Chairing a review meeting here, Mann said the floods have caused irreparable damage across multiple districts. With water now receding, the fear of outbreaks among humans and cattle is mounting. He stressed that the government is already making massive efforts to curb disease spread.
Health Camps & Special Drive
So far, around 1.50 lakh people have benefited from health camps, where cases of fever, diarrhoea, and skin infections are surfacing in large numbers. Mann said a special health campaign, launched on September 14, aims to:
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Ensure healthcare access in flood-hit villages
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Prevent vector-borne, waterborne, and communicable diseases
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Protect vulnerable groups
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Strengthen disease surveillance and rapid response
Health camps have been set up in all 2,303 villages, staffed by doctors, paramedics, and support teams equipped with essential medicines.
ASHA Workers & Household Coverage
Every ASHA worker is visiting households, and so far, 2.47 lakh households have been covered. Health kits — including ORS, mosquito repellents, paracetamol, cetirizine, chlorine tablets, soap, and first-aid supplies — are being distributed. By September 20, every household is expected to be covered.
Vector Control & Fumigation
The state has launched a 21-day fumigation and vector control drive to cover all villages. Door-to-door inspections are underway to detect mosquito breeding, with immediate larvicidal spraying and daily village-wide fumigation being carried out.