Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh visits De-Addiction and Rehabilitation Centre Gurdaspur

Gurdaspur (The Uttam Hindu): Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Balbir Singh today visited De-Addiction and Rehabilitation Centre Gurdaspur. On this occasion, he enquired about the health condition of the patients undergoing treatment here and also inspired them to quit drugs and lead a healthy and prosperous life. He said that Under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab government is running a 'War Against Drugs' campaign to make the state drug-free and with the support of the people, the state government will achieve victory in this war.

During his visit to Gurdaspur, Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Balbir Singh led a dengue awareness campaign in Kotli Nangal and Geeta Bhawan areas of Gurdaspur city under the 'Every Friday Dengue and War Campaign'. Under the leadership of the Cabinet Minister, teams of the Health Department checked the larvae in the houses of the people and the larvae were destroyed on the spot. On this occasion, the Health Minister also made the people aware about the prevention of dengue.

After this, Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh held a review meeting with the MLAs, chairmen, public representatives and officials at the District Administrative Complex on the Rangla Punjab Development Scheme, Dengue-Chikungunya Prevention and Anti-Drug Campaign. Presiding over the meeting, the Health Minister said that under the drug de-addiction campaign being run by the government, many people have decided to quit drugs and the Health Department will provide free treatment to all the patients and get rid of them. He said that the number of beds in the drug de-addiction centers running in the district should be increased so that maximum patients can be admitted there and treated. He instructed the officials that this facility can also be provided in any private hospital or any vacant government building in this regard.

Dr. Balbir Singh said that along with the treatment of the patients, they are also being linked with yoga, sports activities and employment-oriented training programs. They are advised by trained counselors.

Talking about the Rangla Punjab Development Scheme, the Health Minister said that under this scheme, development works will be carried out in the district at a cost of Rs. 35 crore. He said that Rs. 5 crore will be spent in each assembly constituency of the district, under which infrastructure will be developed in villages and areas and new employment opportunities will be created at the local level.

On the prevention of dengue and chikungunya, the Health Minister said that there has been a significant reduction in the cases of these diseases in the district compared to the last two years. He said that training has been given to ASHA workers, nursing students, who are going door to door to make people aware about mosquito larvae and the diseases spread by them. He said that anti-dengue activities will be implemented more effectively, especially focusing on hotspot areas. He directed the Health Department officer to further increase the participation of ASHA workers and nursing students and also honor them for their excellent work. He said that the employees of all departments should be informed about the measures to identify the larvae and eliminate its source.

Meanwhile, the Health Minister instructed the Water Supply Department officials to conduct continuous sampling of drinking water in every city and village of the district. He said that in those villages where water is purified by RO they are engaged and it should be ensured that all the ROs are working properly. He said that the state government is committed to providing clean and pure drinking water to the people and no negligence will be tolerated in this regard.

During the meeting, Deputy Commissioner Mr. Dalwinderjit Singh, while giving information about the rehabilitation center to the Health Minister, said that two government de-addiction centers, one rehabilitation center and one semi-de-addiction center are being run in Gurdaspur district. Apart from this, three private de-addiction centers are also running and total 120 beds are available in all these centers. He said that under the directions of the Honorable Minister, the number of beds in the district will be further increased. He said that 34 government OOAT centers and 3 private OOAT centers are also running in the district. He said that apart from treating the patients who are giving up drugs, they are being counseled and vocational training is also being given to them. The Deputy Commissioner said that Mission Umeed is also being run by the district administration to connect the youth with employment. He said that as per the instructions of the Punjab government, the district administration is working with full sincerity for the eradication of drugs and district Gurdaspur will play its leading role in making the state drug free.

On this occasion, Dera Baba Nanak MLA S. Gurdeep Singh Randhawa, Punjab Health Systems Corporation Chairman Mr. Raman Bahl, District Planning Committee Chairman S. Jagroop Singh Sekhwan, S. Balbir Singh Pannu, Mr. Shamsher Singh Dinanagar, Chairman of Improvement Trust Gurdaspur Mr. Rajiv Sharma, besides SSP Batala Mr. Sohail Qasim Mir, SSP Gurdaspur Mr. Aditya, Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Dr. Harjinder Singh Bedi, SDM Dinanagar S. Jaspinder Singh, SP Jugraj Singh, SDM Gurdaspur S. Manjit Singh Rajla, SDM Batala Mr. Vikramjit Singh, SDM Dera Baba Nanak S. Gurmander Singh, Assistant Commissioner Mr. Rupinderpal Singh, Mr. Kuldeep Raj, district officers of various departments along with Civil Surgeon Dr. Jaswinder Singh, Assistant Civil Surgeon Dr. Lalit Mohan, District Family Welfare Officer Dr. Tejinder Kaur, District Epidemiologist Dr. Gurpreet Kaur, Dr. Mamta, Dr. Ankur, Mrs. Rupinder Kaur, District Mass Media Wing team, entire IDSP team, nursing students, ASHA workers and all the staff of Anti Larva Wing were present.