Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has directed the Health and Family Welfare Department to conduct extensive health checkups and sanitation campaigns in flood-affected districts. The Chief Minister stated that the risk of disease outbreaks among humans and animals has increased after the floodwaters receded, a fact the government is paying special attention to.
He stated that over 150,000 people have received screening and treatment through health camps set up in flood-affected villages so far. These camps have detected a large number of fevers, diarrhea, skin diseases, and other illnesses. A special health care campaign was launched on September 14th, with medical camps set up in all 2,303 affected villages. The Chief Minister stated that ASHA workers have reached 247,000 households and distributed health kits. These kits include basic medicines such as ORS, mosquito repellent, paracetamol, chlorine tablets, and soap. He stated that as part of a 21-day fogging and mosquito control campaign, larvae are being destroyed from village to village. Emphasis has also been placed on cleaning villages, streets, and ponds, which has been ordered to be completed by September 21st. The Animal Husbandry Department has also taken the lead, treating 14,780 animals and providing free vaccinations to 48,535. Animals killed in the floods are being safely disposed of to prevent soil and water contamination.
The Chief Minister stated that potassium permanganate is being distributed to livestock owners to keep animal enclosures and watering points free of infection. He advised farmers to regularly clean their hooves and udders. Mann clarified that 24-hour control rooms are active in the affected areas, and farmers are being provided with mobile phone consultations. He directed immediate repair of water supply pipelines and regular testing and chlorination of water to prevent waterborne diseases. The Chief Minister said that providing relief to the people in this hour of crisis is the first priority of the government and for this all the departments are working in better coordination.


