Amidst apprehensions of a possible outbreak of water-borne diseases in flood-hit Uttarakhand, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has decided to depute a high-level team to review the public health measures in the state.
Monitoring the situation in Uttarakhand, the ministry has sent three truckloads of interim supplies of medicines to the state, besides posting three central public health teams.
According to the ministry, three teams from the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore would provide psycho-social support to the rescued pilgrims. In addition, two specialists from the fields of cardiology, psychiatry and internal medicine each have been sent to the flood-hit state. A specialist from the National Vector-Borne Disease Control Programme has also been deputed to Uttarakhand. On the state’s request, the ministry is procuring 10 lakh chlorine tablets. The Indian Red Cross Society has provided seven truckloads of relief material including tents, family packs, kitchen sets, blankets and latrines. The Red Cross has also arranged 1,100 bags for carrying bodies, and an additional 500 bags procured by the ministry have been sent.