Chandigarh: Amid reports of an upsurge in influenza-like illnesses or severe acute respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19, in some states, Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh on Tuesday (December 19) said the state government is fully geared to effectively tackle any exigency. The minister, who held a virtual meeting with all civil surgeons to review the medical infrastructure at state-run health facilities, said the Punjab government is prepared with the requisite bed capacity and ventilators in hospitals.
It has made adequate arrangements for PPE (personal protective equipment) kits, masks and testing kits to deal with the virus’ spread.
Mr Singh said all the health facilities in Punjab have sufficient doctors and medical staff. All the oxygen plants and emergency systems are active in all government hospitals.
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The situation is under control and people need not panic, Mr Singh said and urged the public to strictly adhere to the health and safety protocols, including frequently washing hands. He said in an official statement,
People, especially those who are immunocompromised or have Covid symptoms such as cold or cough, should take extra care and avoid going outside until there is an urgency.
The health minister also appealed to the public to not get swayed by rumours.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which in its Season 10 is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Ayushmann Khurrana. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In a world post COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental well-being, self-care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.
