Health Dept holds free medical camps in flood-affected areas

Under the supervision of Civil Surgeon Dr Ramandeep Kaur, the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Ludhiana, intensified surveys in flood-affected areas to monitor the spread of water and vector-borne diseases. Health teams visited low-lying and flood-hit neighbourhoods, going door-to-door to collect data on cases of diarrhoea, gastroenteritis, jaundice, hepatitis, dengue, malaria and chikungunya.

Seven special free medical camps were also organised by the department near Buddha Nallah. At these camps, expert doctors and paramedical staff conducted check-ups, distributed free medicines and ran awareness programmes to prevent the spread of diseases. The primary objective of these camps was to reduce health risks caused by flooding and to ensure immediate healthcare services for affected citizens.

Dr Ramandeep said the department had made arrangements to effectively deal with any emergencies during the situation. Adequate stocks of essential medicines were supplied to all government centres, while rapid response teams remained on standby. If required, temporary health camps would also be set up in flood-affected areas at short notice, she added.

Citizens were advised to drink only boiled water, store it in covered containers and ensure no water stagnated around their homes. People were also urged not to venture into floodwater unless absolutely necessary to avoid infection. Immediate medical attention was strongly recommended for symptoms such as fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain or yellowing of eyes.

For any concerns or suspected cases of disease, citizens were requested to contact the nearest government health facility or call the district health helpline at 0161-2444193.