CHENNAI: Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami flagged off 200 additional special medical team vehicles to be sent to various places affected by flood, from the Multi Super-Speciality Hospital, Omandurar Estate here, on Sunday.Already 401 special medical camps are being held by Health and Family Welfare department in flood-affected districts of Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Cuddalore, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam. Now, an additional 200 special medical team vehicles have been added for Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts.
One vehicle for each medical team has been assigned. Doctors and nurses team from Madras Medical College, Government Stanley Medical College Hospital, and New Medical College Hospital, Omandurar Estate, will be travelling to flood-affected areas to treat people if they show symptoms of diseases.
“These teams will check for vomiting, fever, upper respiratory, diarrhoea, sore feet and other cases. Medicines were procured for `1 crore for the camps. There are 100 medical teams, 25 siddha medical teams and 25 teams to check water chlorination. Totally, 200 special medical teams are at work. Depending on needs, the number of mobile medical teams will be increased,” said Health minister C Vijaya Basker.
The Health department has been holding medical camps for the last one week. “So far, there are no significant cases. There are a few fever cases reported that too due to common cold. There are also injury cases due to walking in waterlogging. There are no diarrhoea or significant fever cases,” said K Kolandaswamy, Director of Public Health.Officials also advised public not to walk in stagnant sewage-mixed water as there is possibility of contracting leptospirosis. If there is stagnation of sewage water, people should spray bleaching power, a disinfectant around their house, he said.
For assistance, call public health department helpline numbers 044-2435 0496/ 2433 4811/ 94443 40496/ 93614 82899, or call 104 medical helpline number.