The Punjab government has introduced a new approach that links education with public health, turning schools into centers of wellness for families and communities. As part of this initiative, all government schools in the Ludhiana district will host a special “Hypertension and Mental Health Awareness Drive” on October 17 during the Parent-Teacher Meetings. The campaign aims to educate parents and guardians about the risks of high blood pressure, hypertension, and mental health challenges while promoting the idea that healthy families create stronger students.

This initiative is being carried out through a collaboration between the Punjab government and Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), Ludhiana, under Mission Swasth Kavach. The mission’s goal is to ensure that schools become more than places of learning—they become spaces that nurture the physical and emotional well-being of communities. By starting health awareness from classrooms, the campaign seeks to extend its impact to families and neighborhoods across the district.

Deputy District Education Officer (Secondary) Amandeep Singh has directed all schools to check the blood pressure of at least one hundred parents or visitors during the event. Students and teachers trained in First Aid under Mission Swasth Kavach will help carry out these checkups. Each participant’s blood pressure will be recorded three times to ensure reliable results. Singh explained that all schools have been equipped with permanent BP measuring devices to continue health assessments beyond this campaign. He added that the initiative will not only promote physical health awareness but also draw attention to mental well-being and stress management, while encouraging students to develop a sense of empathy and social service.

The health mentor of each school will oversee the campaign, organizing the checkup camp with the support of students. Schools have been instructed to upload detailed reports and data from the program through Google Forms. The Education Department has emphasized strict accountability, making school heads personally responsible for any lapse in the implementation of the campaign.

Officials believe this initiative truly captures the spirit of “education and health together.” Parents visiting the PTM will not only learn about their child’s academic performance but will also have access to free health checkups. The concept reinforces the idea that the physical and mental well-being of parents directly contributes to their children’s growth and learning.

The Ludhiana campaign is being hailed as a model that other districts in Punjab can replicate. It aims to deepen public understanding of hypertension and mental health while fostering community engagement and responsibility among students. The initiative highlights the Punjab government’s vision of holistic development, where learning and health are interlinked to create a healthier, more informed society.

Following recent concerns over adverse drug reactions, including the controversy surrounding Coldrif syrup, the Punjab government has ordered the immediate suspension of eight intravenous medicines and fluids produced by three pharmaceutical companies.

In a circular issued by the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare, all civil surgeons, medical superintendents, and district hospital heads have been instructed to halt the use, distribution, and purchase of the affected drugs with immediate effect. The order, dated October 10, stated that this decision was taken after reports of suspected adverse reactions surfaced from several healthcare facilities. As a precaution, the state has decided to suspend the use of the specified batches until further notice.

The order lists particular batches of normal saline, dextrose, ciprofloxacin, DNS, and other intravenous fluids manufactured by Swaroop Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd, Otsuka Pharmaceutical India Pvt Ltd, and Health Biotech Ltd. Among the flagged products are two batches of normal saline made in May 2025, one batch of dextrose injection, and ciprofloxacin injections produced in late 2024. The government has also stopped the use of DNS 0.9 percent, N/2 plus dextrose fluid, and bupivacaine with dextrose, which were manufactured between December 2023 and December 2024.

The Directorate has directed all government hospitals and healthcare institutions to comply immediately. It has also asked the Punjab Health Systems Corporation to assess the reported cases of adverse reactions linked to these drugs and submit a detailed evaluation after convening an expert panel.

A senior health department official said the decision was taken purely as a precaution to ensure patient safety and would remain in force until the quality and safety of the affected batches are verified.

This directive follows the recent withdrawal of Coldrif cough syrup, manufactured by Maiden Pharmaceuticals, after suspected cases of adverse reactions were reported in several districts. Health officials emphasized that the latest action highlights the government’s strict stance against any compromise in drug quality and its commitment to protecting public health.