Health Minister tours flood-hit areas of Sultanpur Lodhi

Punjab Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh today made an intensive tour of the flood-affected areas at Sultanpur Lodhi in Kapurthala district where a swollen Beas river has inundated large areas. The minister had earlier visited the Civil Hospital at Sultanpur Lodhi last night.

The Health Minister was accompanied by Rajya Sabha MP Balbir Singh Seechewal, Sultanpur Lodhi Halqa in-charge of AAP Sajjan Singh Cheema, along with the Kapurthala Deputy Commissioner, SSP, Civil Surgeon and SMO. He visited the flood-affected areas in a boat, went to homes and cow sheds in villages. Over 20 villages had been flooded in Sultanpur Lodhi after the temporary bundh had breached days ago —- hitting the Mand village of Baupur and 16 to 18 others near them. Subsequent breaches in advance bundhs at Mandala Channa also caused additional damage to crop and land. A minor breach in the embankment at Ali Kalan village was also reported today.

With the fluctuating river water advancing and receding every day —- according to the intensity of rains and waters released from the dams —- villagers have been fearing an outbreak of infections and allergies in the sludgy, muddy waters which surround their villages. The Health Minister himself was greeted by a snake at an establishment.

Speaking to the media, the Health Minister said, “I have been entrusted with the duty to ensure that the arrangements for treatment of all patients at hospitals are up to the mark. The CM has asked me to get a report regarding this. All health and emergency mechanisms are fully prepared to tackle medical and emergencies cases in the region. The dengue wards, diarrhoea wards and emergency services are ready and fully stacked to tackle patients and all medicines are available at medical units. Today, we visited many houses in the flood-hit area. While the problem of flies and mosquitoes is surprisingly less as compared to cities here, I did encounter a snake lying on a generator. So while people need to be cautious, we have ensured that all medical facilities are fully equipped and stacked to take in patients in view of the floods hitting the region.”

The Health Minister said a base hospital at Sultanpur Lodhi was serving as a key unit for relief medicines in the flood-hit areas. Medicines have been stored in adequate quantities and ambulances have also been pressed into service to aid people, the minister said.

Touring the flood-affected Sangra village along with Seechewal and Cheema, the minister lauded the courage of the people of the flood-hit region. “The area is battling the ravages of the flood. Despite people being confined to their homes which have been surrounded by waters, the spirit of service is alive and there is no dearth of hospitality being offered to visitors. ‘Sangat’ is also doing a lot of sewa in the region. The people’s indomitable spirit remains unfazed despite the flood,” he said.

The Health Minister’s visit to the region came close on the heels of the declaration of a special girdawari ordered for the flood-hit are by Revenue Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian during his visit yesterday. Mundian had instructed the administration to carry out special girdawari as soon as the water level receded and submit the report, so that compensation could be provided to the affected people.

Launches boat ambulance

Cabinet Minister Dr Balbir Singh on Friday launched a boat ambulance service to provide healthcare facilities in the flood-affected areas of Sultanpur Lodhi. During a visit to the flood-affected areas of Sultanpur Lodhi, along with MP Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal, the Health Minister addressed mediapersons. He said the Punjab Government implemented robust measures to deliver healthcare services and curb waterborne diseases in the flood-hit regions.

He assured the public that the Health Department had ample medicine stocks, eliminating any cause for concern. Dedicated doctors and paramedical staff were working tirelessly to provide round-the-clock care, he said. The minister also visited a relief centre at Lakh Wariah to evaluate healthcare services being provided there.

Besides, the minister announced that the Health Department would soon recruit 1,000 doctors and staff nurses. He said over 10 doctors and 15 staff nurses would be specifically assigned to serve in Sultanpur Lodhi hospital. Improvement Trust Chairman and constituency in-charge Sajjan Singh Cheema, Civil Surgeon Dr Harpal Singh and other officials were present on the occasion.