SPECIAL drive launched to check Malaria

Chandigarh, July 9, 2013: The Punjab Government has decided to launch a coordinated to check the onset of Malaria keeping in view the monsoon season.

Disclosing this here today, Health and Family Welfare Minister, Punjab Madan Mohan Mittal said that Health and Family welfare department has been asked to coordinate with Local Bodies Department and concerned agencies to check the spread of Malaria and take effective steps in this regard.  The department has launched a drive to check menace of mosquito breeding by issuing instructions to all medical officers to involve public to make it "man based drive"

He said that mosquitoes were not only a nuisance as biting insects, but were also involved periodically in transmitting disease to human and animals. Mosquitoes also transmit disease, such as, Malaria, Dengue, Yellow fever and Ecephalitis and it was imperative to check their breeding sources.

The Minister said that Mosquito control agencies have been asked to take effective steps to check the spread of mosquito menace. Besides this he said residents have been requested to help significantly by controlling mosquitoes around their homes and properties. He said that most efficient method of controlling mosquitoes was by reducing the availability of water suitable for Larwal and pupal growth. He said that a campaign has been launched to educate the public that Mosquitoes   thrives in smaller bodies of water in protected places, like unwanted tin cans and tires, water coolers, clogged roof and drains etc., he added.  Public has been advised that the water inside the desert coolers should be replaced at least twice in a week.

He said that medical test and treatment of malaria is free of cost in all government hospitals in state. He said that as per the advice of Health Department, to prevent malaria one should drink boiled or chemically treated water etc.

The Minister said that all the government hospitals have been directed to maintain adequate stocks of medicines and fluids. Detailed guidelines in this regard have been issued to all the civil surgeons in the state to ensure all possible measures and steps to prevent any outbreak of malaria.