Sunday, 14 September 2014
Floating Clinics' Proposed by Harsh Vardhan for flood ravaged Srinagar
Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan has proposed that boats be mobilised
to send medical supplies to the people of the inundated areas of Srinagar who find it
impossible to venture out of their homes because of high flood waters.
Returning after a day's tour of the flood ravaged areas, Dr Harsh Vardhan said
that Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had positively responded to his proposal.
"The Chief Minister has directed his officials to mobilise the available boats
and start something on an urgent basis. Meanwhile, I am arranging for accelerating the
supply side especially in respect of doctors and health workers," he said.
Jammu and Kashmir Governor Narendra Nath Vora had also agreed to push
this idea. People suffering from diabetes, hypertension among the cut-off population need
to be urgently provided their dozes of medicines. Only boats laden with such drugs can access such people.
The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister praised the functioning of the reverse
osmosis water treatment plants sent through Red Cross.
The Central Government had also sent 80 women gynaecologists whose role
had met with wide appreciation among the affected population.
Simultaneously, the Union Health Minister has urged the state's health
secretary and other officials of the urgent need to dispose of the carcasses lying around Srinagar.
Pointing out that a number of diseases could spread because of the
omnipresence of dead animals, he urged the launch of an information-education-
communication-intervention offensive to make people conscious of the need to boil water
before drinking and observing other hygienic parameters in the present situation.
"I have urged for central monitoring of the supply of filtered water. For people
cut off I have advised that chlorine tablets be supplied. Just one tablet dissolved in 20 litres
of water after 30 minutes could safeguard people against water borne diseases," Dr Vardhan pointed out.
The Health Minister appreciated the work of the Army, BSF and other agencies
which are working round the clock to reach succour to the affected population.
"There are a large number of doctors from Delhi's central government hospitals
who rushed there at this calamitous time. I can't muster enough words in their praise," he said.
Accompanied by officials of the Health Ministry including Dr P. Ravindran,
Director, Emergency Medical Relief, Dr Venkatesh, Additional Director, National Centre for
Disease Control, and Anshu Prakash, Joint Secretary, the Health Minister visited the Hum
Huma Relief Camp in Srinagar.
He visited the 60-bed composite hospital run by the BSF. His special concern
was the neo-natal cases and he inquired into their care. He stopped at the Ada Sayad
Memorial District Hospital in Budgaon and interacted with doctors and patients. At the
Army Base Hospital he inspected the facilities to treat premature birth cases. more >>
