Chandigarh: Haryana Health Minister Arti Singh Rao on Wednesday urged people to take preventive measures against dengue during the monsoon and appealed to citizens to observe July as “Anti-Dengue Month”.
Launching the campaign with the slogan “Let’s Stop Dengue Together”, the minister stressed that public participation was key to preventing the spread of the mosquito-borne disease.
She urged people to ensure that there is no water stagnation in or around their homes, as the Aedes mosquito — which spreads dengue — breeds in clean, stagnant water.
Rao advised residents to observe a “Dry Day” every Sunday at home and every Friday in offices by emptying and drying water containers, coolers, overhead tanks, refrigerator trays and flower pots for at least 24 hours to destroy mosquito eggs and larvae.
She also appealed to people to keep water tanks covered, dispose of unused plastic items, old tyres and coconut shells, fill potholes with soil, wear full-sleeved clothes and use mosquito repellents or insecticide-treated mosquito nets.
The minister said platelet transfusion services are available free of cost at all district civil hospitals in Haryana. She added that 27 government laboratories are providing free dengue testing at district civil hospitals across the state.
Rao said private laboratories have been directed to conduct ELISA-based NS-1 and IgM dengue tests at a maximum charge of Rs 600.
She urged people to remain alert to symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, muscle and joint pain and pain behind the eyes, and advised those with such symptoms to visit the nearest health facility for a free blood test.
The minister cautioned against self-medication and said medicines should be taken only on the advice of qualified doctors.
She said eliminating dengue requires collective public participation and urged citizens to work together to keep Haryana free of the disease.
