Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya directed them to prepare an online database listing all the important information such as availability of beds, oxygen and other health facilities to ensure efficient management of any health emergency
New Delhi/Guwahati:
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Saturday stressed the need for strong coordination between the central and state health institutions for effective management of floods and any other emergencies in Assam.
Chairing a meeting with central and state health agencies to discuss health-related issues arising due to the floods ahead of the monsoon in Assam, Mandaviya assessed the arrangements put in place by the central agencies and the state government to ensure effective management of the deluge in the state.
Assam’s flood situation worsened on Friday with incessant rainfall inundating new areas across 11 districts and impacting over 34,000 people.
Most of the rivers, including the Brahmaputra, are maintaining a trend of rising water level at different places though none are flowing above the danger mark, according to the daily flood report of the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA).
Altogether 34,189 people, comprising 14, 675 women and 3,787 children, are reeling under the impact of the deluge.
The number of people affected by the flood waters has increased from over 29,000 in three districts on Thursday as the rain continued in the state.
At the virtual meeting, the minister underscored the need to keep ready critical-care equipment, oxygen, hospital beds as well as availability of clean drinking water in the flood-affected regions.
He also emphasised preventive healthcare and greater awareness among the communities regarding vector-borne and water-borne diseases.Mandaviya urged the officials to work on a flood-management model to deal with the flood situation in Assam, which is a recurring phenomenon.
He directed them to prepare an online database listing all the important information such as availability of beds, oxygen and other health facilities to ensure efficient management of any health emergency.
Mandaviya also exhorted the officials to ensure that the health and wellness centres are well-equipped with required medicines, functioning medical equipment and other amenities.
He also directed for training of all health workers at the health and wellness centres so that they are well-equipped to provide requisite healthcare services required during emergencies.
“The ASHAs, ANMs, CHOs and others should know their roles and responsibilities for any emergency. Advance training will ensure that they are effective in providing healthcare services during flood management,” he said.
Assam Principal Secretary (Health) Avinash Joshi informed that all necessary medicines are in adequate stock.
Deputy Commissioners from the six districts — Barpeta, Kamrup, Cachar, Lakhimpur, Dima Hasao and Dibrugarh — who had joined the review meeting assured that they are regularly reviewing the preparedness to ensure effective management of the flood situation.
Mandaviya, on his part, assured all support of the Centre for flood management in Assam.
Bishwanath, Darrang, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Lakhimpur, Tamulpur and Udalguri are among the affected districts.
Lakhimpur is the worst hit with over 23,516 people suffering from the deluge, followed by Dibrugarh with 3,857, Darrang with 2231, Bishwanath with 2231 and Dhemaji with 1,085.Eleven relief distribution centres with eight in Lakhimpur and two in Udalguri, have been set up.
Altogether 77 villages have been adversely impacted by floods and 209.67 hectares of crop areas have been damaged across Assam, the ASDMA said.
Four embankments, two each in Lakhimpur and Udalguri, have been breached.
Massive erosions have been reported from Biswanath, Bongaigaon, Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Jorhat, Karbi Anglong West, Lakhimpur, Morigaon, Nalbari, Sonitpur, Tamulpur and Udalguri districts, the ASDMA said.
Landslides have also been reported from some parts of Dima Hasao and Kamrup districts following heavy rainfall, the report said.
Embankments, roads, bridges and other infrastructure have been damaged by flood waters in Baksa, Biswanath, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Lakhimpur, Nalbari, and Udalguri districts.