Pb reconstitutes village panels to boost grassroots healthcare
Chandigarh: In a significant move to strengthen healthcare delivery at the grassroots level, the
Punjab health department
has reconstituted village health, sanitation and nutrition committees (VHSNCs) across the state.
Health minister Dr Balbir Singh called upon these committees to work in close coordination with the govt to combat vector- and water-borne diseases and contribute towards building a drug-free Punjab.
Over 1 lakh members from 12,977 VHSNCs participated online in the inaugural event, showcasing strong community engagement. During a virtual interaction, Dr Balbir Singh personally addressed more than 100 members from selected VHSNCs representing the districts of Mansa, Patiala, Sangrur, Fatehgarh Sahib, Gurdaspur, and Bathinda.
Highlighting the pivotal role of VHSNCs in addressing public health concerns, the minister said that the committees would focus on the prevention and control of
vector-borne diseases
such as Dengue, Malaria, and Chikungunya, along with waterborne illnesses like Diarrhoea.
The health minister informed that
Asha workers
were trained to identify mosquito larvae under the ongoing "Har Shukarvar Dengue Te Vaar" campaign, which aims to eliminate stagnant water - a primary breeding ground for mosquitoes.
As part of
biological control measures
, the health department is also distributing Gambusia fish to be released in village ponds to curb mosquito populations.
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