Healthcare personnel, social activists trained in disaster management

The health department has launched a coordinated programme to sensitise all stakeholders about their role as rescuers during a flood-like situation. Workshops, seminars and meetings were held at various healthcare centres at various towns in the Ludhiana and Malerkotla districts.

Malerkotla Deputy Commissioner Viraj Singh Tidke said experts from various crisis management agencies, including National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and special teams of health department, had updated officials about the proactive measures they must take in case of any emergency.

Handling people injured during mishaps, shifting victims to healthcare centres, rescuing drowning persons and preventing the spread of diseases like cholera, typhoid, dengue and malaria were cited as the areas of focus.

Ahmedgarh SMO Dr Jyoti Kapoor said all members of the staff, including emergency medical officers and paramedical staff, had been advised to take extra precaution in handling patients from flooded areas and be ready for any call for deployment at other healthcare centres or flood-affected areas of the state.

SMO Civil Hospital Rajesh Garg said office-bearers of various social, constitutional and religious organisations had been roped in for buttressing proactive measures being taken by the administration to check or minimise the potential spread of waterborne diseases and waterlogging.