After waterlogging in K’shetra, Health Department on toes to provide medical aid

After the Markanda river and other canals and rivers lefts a large number of villages and urban areas waterlogged, the Health Department has been carrying out intensive measures to provide medical assistance to people in affected areas.

The Health Department is also educating the people living in the waterlogged areas about the potential diseases and precautions to be taken.

As per the information, the medical teams have visited over 230 villages and 17 wards since September 3, the department has also set up 151 health camps in which 2,040 people were examined. Besides these IEC (information, education and communication) activities were carried out in 326 villages and 167 wards by the ANMs and ASHAs. Over 3,120 waterbodies and wells were chlorinated, while over 4,000 packets of ORS were distributed.

The teams also conducted 46 bacteriological water sample tests of which 10 were found unfit for drinking. During the health camps, 272 people were found suffering from fever, 177 from skin diseases, 59 from gastroenteritis, 16 from conjunctivitis and 13 from dysentery.

A health official said since the river water was flowing through the agricultural fields, the connecting roads of the villages were also waterlogged and tractor-trailers were on the only means of transportation. The teams of the Health Department were travelling to the villages on tractor-trailers to provide medical assistance.

Deputy Civil Surgeon Dr Pradeep Kumar, who has been visiting the health camps, said “Intensified surveys in the waterlogged areas to monitor the health conditions are being conducted. The teams of the Health Department have also been monitoring the spread of water and vector-borne disease as chances of various types of diseases and infections increase after the severe waterlogging. So far, the situation is under control and a need did not arise to admit any patient, but round the clock duties have been assigned to the staff in the hospitals to effectively deal with the emergencies.”

Kurukshetra Civil Surgeon Dr Sukhbir Singh said the Health Department was closely monitoring the waterlogged areas. The rapid response team of the district has visited various areas, including Roopnagar, Patti Jhambra, Shahabad, Tangore, Jalbhera and other areas of the district. During the health camps, the citizens are also being advised to drink only boiled water and ensure no water stagnation around their homes so that the small pockets don’t become breeding grounds for mosquitoes. They are also recommended to get immediate medical attention for symptoms like eye infection, diarrhoea and fever. The situation is under control and the Health Department has made all arrangements to provide medical assistance to the affected people.