Chandigarh, August 20: The Punjab Health Department is combining public awareness campaigns with financial assistance through the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana to manage monsoon-related fevers and vector-borne illnesses. Official records show that 351 beneficiaries have accessed 357 treatments totaling ₹89.35 lakh for diseases like dengue, malaria, and chikungunya.
Health authorities emphasized the importance of public participation in maintaining domestic hygiene to eliminate potential vector habitats.
“Mosquito-borne diseases need a community-wide response. Prevention cannot remain the responsibility of the health department alone,” Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh stated. “Every household, school and institution must ensure that stagnant water does not become a breeding ground for mosquitoes.”
Preventive drives like the “Har Shukarvaar Dengue Te Vaar” initiative have contributed to a drop in annual dengue cases from 23,389 in 2021 to 4,981 in 2025. Free diagnostic services, including ELISA testing, are currently available across 47 Sentinel Surveillance Hospitals state-wide.
Medical specialists cautioned against ignoring persistent fever, high weakness, or unusual bleeding during the monsoon season. Experts noted that financial coverage through state health initiatives removes economic hesitation, enabling families to seek prompt medical intervention and hospitalization when necessary.
