Chandigarh, September 16:
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday directed the Health and family welfare department to intensify its efforts for giving relief to the people in terms of diagnosis and treatment of the people in the flood affected districts of the state.
Chairing a review meeting here today, the Chief Minister said that the floods have caused irreparable damage in the various districts of the state and now when the water has started receding the fear of spread of diseases amongst the human beings and animals is there. He said that in wake of this the state government is already doing massive efforts to prevent the spread of disease amongst human beings and cattle. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that so far around 1.50 lakh people have benefited from the Health camps being organized in the flood affected villages where cases of fever, diarrhea, skin infections and others are coming in huge numbers.
The Chief Minister said that special health campaign was launched on September 14 to address post flood health challenges with key motive to ensure accessible healthcare in flood-affected village, prevention of vector-borne, waterborne and communicable diseases, protecting vulnerable groups (elderly, pregnant women, infants) and strengthening disease surveillance and rapid response. He said that health camps have been organized in all 2303 villages, from three consecutive days adding that teams of Doctors, Paramedical teams, support staff equipped with essential medicines and consumables are serving the people. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that similarly every ASHA worker is covering all households in villages and so far around 2.47 lakh households have been covered by them.
The Chief Minister said that Health kits are being distributed in the villages which include ORS, mosquito repellent, paracetamol, cetirizine, chlorine tablets, soap, and basic first-aid supplies adding that by September 20, 2025 every household will be covered. He said that a 21-Day Fumigation and Vector Control Drive has been started with an aim to cover all villages across the State. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that door-to-door inspections for checking mosquito breeding is being done and immediate larvicidal spraying wherever breeding is detected is being carried out along with daily village-wide fumigation.
Likewise, the Chief Minister said that the Animal Husbandry department has also vehemently launched a drive to check prevention of disease amongst the animals. He said that so far 14780 animals have been treated and 48535 cattle have been vaccinated free of cost. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that safe and scientific disposal of carcasses of animals that perished in floods is being ensured to prevent soil and water contamination leading to outbreak of diseases.
Similarly, the Chief Minister underscored the need for cleanliness in the villages, streets, ponds (phirni, naali, gali and others) without any delay. He said that outdoor fogging in affected areas should also be ensured along with waste management and timely disposal of garbage to avoid mosquito breeding ground. Bhagwant Singh Mann batted for massive cleanliness drives and drainage of stagnant water along with outdoor fogging in affected areas.
The Chief Minister said that drainage of stagnant water from fields and village surroundings is being ensured and Gram Rozgar Sewaks are being roped in for breeding checking, fumigation and cleanliness drives. He said that cleanup operation should be completed by September 21 and cleaning and disinfection of livestock shelters and feeding areas is being done in villages. Likewise, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that debris and contaminated feed is also being removed along with Disinfection of Feeding and Water troughs of animals.
The Chief Minister said that distribution of Potassium permanganate (KMnO4 crystals) to Livestock Farmers is being done free of cost for cleaning and disinfection of feeding and water troughs. He said that farmers have been advised to use KMnO4 for disinfection of hooves/ feet on regular basis to prevent Foot-rot Infection adding that Cleaning/ Disinfection of animal Teats is being done before milking to minimize Mastitis. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that treatment cum awareness camps are being organized in villages to educate the livestock farmers in care and management of their animals under these stress conditions.
The Chief Minister said that requisite medicines are being distributed free of cost besides ensuring other logistic support. Hitherto, he said that 14780 animals have been given requisite treatment in the camps at flood affected villages adding that a 24 x 7 control room is functional in the entire affected district. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that these control rooms are being duly monitored by a concerned Veterinary Officer and consultation is being provided to the farmers on the mobile.
Batting for inter departmental coordination; the Chief Minister said that this is the need of hour to overcome this grave crisis and provide relief to the people. He said that the supply of safe potable drinking water in all flood-affected areas through regular testing and chlorination should be ensured. Likewise, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that repair of any leakages from water supply pipelines to prevent and manage water borne diseases outbreaks should also be ensured.
On the occasion Cabinet Ministers Dr Balbir Singh, Dr Ravjot and Tarunpreet Singh Sondh, Chief Secretary KAP Sinha and others were also present.
