The Punjab government launched a large-scale health initiative in flood-hit regions of the state, drawing more than 51,000 people to special medical camps on the opening day of the campaign.
An official report issued by the health department on September 15 confirmed that these camps had been organised in 2,016 of the 2,303 villages identified for the drive. By the end of the first day, 51,612 individuals had received health check-ups, treatment, and free medicines from the camps set up across the affected districts.
The report also highlighted the extensive role played by frontline health workers. In 1,929 villages, ASHA workers went door-to-door, visiting 132,322 families to screen for health problems and to distribute medicines and medical kits where necessary. These kits contained basic but vital supplies such as oral rehydration salts, paracetamol tablets, antiseptic liquid, bandages, topical creams, and other common medicines used to treat minor but urgent ailments.
Authorities noted that preventive measures were being given equal importance alongside treatment. Cleanliness drives were carried out across hundreds of villages, while vector-control operations sought to reduce the spread of mosquitoes and other carriers of disease. In 1,861 villages, inspections were conducted at 108,770 homes to check for mosquito breeding grounds. Larvae were discovered in 2,163 houses, following which larvicide was applied in more than 23,600 homes to eliminate potential outbreaks. In addition, fogging operations were completed in 878 villages to further reduce mosquito populations.
Health officials stressed that these measures were critical in the aftermath of severe flooding, as stagnant water often becomes a breeding ground for disease. The campaign is aimed at preventing the spread of infections and limiting the risk of outbreaks of illnesses such as dengue, malaria, and other waterborne diseases that commonly follow natural disasters.
