BHUBANESWAR: With floodwater receding, the state government on Saturday deputed senior health officials to strengthen post-calamity healthcare services in four affected districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Keonjhar and Jajpur.
Special secretary Dr Bijay Mishra has been assigned to Balasore, while public health director Dr Rabindra Mishra has been sent to Bhadrak. Similarly, family welfare director Dr Rajendra Panigrahi and health services director Dr MM Panda have been deputed to Keonjhar and Jajpur respectively.
Chief secretary Anu Garg said the Health department is taking required preventive measures to ensure that no epidemic or outbreak of disease occurs in the flood-affected areas following the prolonged flooding.
Sanitation and disinfection of villages that remained submerged for a prolonged period will be accorded the highest priority. Once the floodwaters recede, extensive cleaning and disinfection of submerged villages, roads and public places will be undertaken, she said.
Garg said special emphasis will be laid on preventing outbreak of waterborne and communicable diseases, ensuring the safety of drinking water, maintaining adequate stocks and availability of essential medicines, providing appropriate healthcare services and responding promptly to any emerging health-related issues.
She said steps will be taken to ensure the cleaning and disinfection of drinking water sources and immediate removal of decaying and spoiled food items, animal carcasses and other decomposable materials left behind in the affected areas.
“The state government is working with full commitment to ensure continuous field-level surveillance, early identification of potential health risks and their prompt management,” Garg said.