On the occasion of 'World Health Day' on Friday Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Brahm Mohindra declared war against vector borne diseases while instructing health officials to tackle the problems on priority.

He also asked the department to launch a massive awareness drive through various mediums to educate the people so that these diseases do not start developing.

He stressed upon to conducting awareness campaigns on the radio, mass media, bulk SMS, cinemas, hand out, pamphlets to make people aware.

“There should be no laxity given in dealing with the outbreak of these diseases. All the concerned departments should focus on prevention and awareness about these diseases,” Mohindra said.

Chairing the meeting of the state task force (STF) on Friday for the vector borne diseases, Mohindra further said that he would personally take up the matter with the local bodies minister for ensuring smooth operations especially in the cities.

"The local bodies should also stress on the spraying in collaboration with the health department before the season starts," he said.

He asked the Education Department to generate awareness among the general public through the school children by way of quiz competitions, lectures during the morning assemblies and giving the children a questionnaire regarding these diseases.

"Even the school children of classes IX and X should be having special curriculum for these vector borne diseases," he added.

He also instructed the transport department to arrange for proper covers where ever the stores of condemned tyres are there in Punjab because these are the main places of the breeding of Aedes mosquito, which is responsible for the dengue fever.

"These waste tyres should be immediately discarded and proper spray should be done to prevent the growth of the vector," he added.

He further instructed department of rural development and panchayats to use the Gambusia fish in the ponds, spraying and sanitising in the rural areas, and reporting by the medical officers in the rural areas.

He further said that in case of malaria, most cases are from the rural areas rather than urban while dengue is reported more in urban.

"There are 26 sentinel surveillance hospitals in the state providing, free diagnostic facility for dengue and chikunguniya where tests for these diseases are also done free. Supportive treatment for dengue is also given free in all the district level and sub-division level hospitals," he added.