NHM Assam takes proactive measures to tackle health issues during flood situation

GUWAHATI: The Health Department, under the direction of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and State Health Minister, has undertaken a slew of measures to deal with the health issues during flood and post-flood situation in the State.

While the Mission Director, NHM Assam, Dr M S Lakshmi Priya, is herself on a three-day visit to Barak Valley to assess the health situation, State health teams have been formed to visit all the flood-affected districts of the Assam. Dr MS Lakshmi Priya, along with Dr Anup Kumar Barman, Director of Medical Education, Assam, Dr Ashutosh Barman, Joint Director of Health Services, Cachar district, Dr Babul Bezbaruah, Principal, Silchar Medical Colege and Hospital (SMCH), District Programme Management Unit, Health Teams from GMCH and SMCH, were on the field since 6 am on Tuesday. Around 28 medical teams have been mobilized for flood health camps in all the 28 wards under Silchar and nearby areas.

Vehicles were also deputed for each team, essential medicine stocks were arranged, including other items for the flood-affected areas. The health team was led by the Mission Director, NHM Assam and as per the action plan, each team visited five locations in all the 28 wards, totaling 140 places of Silchar town. MD, NHM Assam visited the various health camps under the wards to assess the situation and interacted with the people for feedback and any grievances. During her interaction she discussed about various post-flood diseases and preventive measures to be taken. All people who attended the health camps were provided ORS packets for prevention of diarrhoea and also adviced to drink clean water to avoid contacting any water-borne diseases.

In all the existing relief camps in Assam, health teams have been stationed to provide medicines, zincors, or for any needs, regular health screening of the inmates is done to keep their health in-check and also to detect any disease outbreak. Emergency phone numbers have also been displayed in all the relief camps for any urgent situation. Special care has been taken of pregnant women, children under 5 years and senior citizens so that they do not face any issues in the relief camps.

The NHM has stressed some preventive measures during flood-situation. Drinking water can be purified by roll boiling it for 10 to 15 minutes before consumption. Even filtered water should be boiled before consumption. Drinking water must be chlorinated using Halogen (NaDCC) tablet. These tablets are supplied by the government free of cost. Water stagnation must be avoided.

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