Uttarakhand Flash Floods–Assistance from Ministry of Health & Family Welfare

ShriGhulamNabi Azad, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare briefed the media about action taken by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare for Uttarakhand flash floods in New Delhi today.

1.      A three member high level team from Ministry is stationed in Dehradun to assess the public health situation and coordinate with the State Health Authorities to provide whatever assistance is needed. Members are – Dr. L.S. Chauhan: Director, National Centre for Diseases Control(Responsible for Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme, which includes Disease Surveillance and giving Technical Inputs for Outbreak Response), Dr. P. Ravindran: Director, Emergency Medical Response (EMR)(Responsible for Epidemic, Outbreak and Disaster Response and Management) and Dr. K.S. Gill: Joint Director, National Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme (NVBDCP).

2.       Dr Jagdish Prasad, DGHS and Shri R.K. Jain, Additional Secretary, Health are visiting Dehradun to review the situation and coordinate with the State Health Authorities.

3.      No outbreak of water / food / or air borne or direct contact diseases have so far been reported from the affected areas.

4.      3 truck-loads of medicines have been despatched.

5.      6 central teams of doctors have been stationed in Uttarakhand.

6.      3 Public Health teams – one atGouchar and another atJoshimath. The third one has been held up atRudraprayag due to road blockage.

7.      3 teams from NIMHANS, Bangalore (consisting of 3 doctors in each team) sent for providing psycho-social support to disaster victims.

8.       3 teams of Specialist Clinicians deployed to assist Uttarakhand Govt. – one team of 2 Medicine Specialists, one team of 2 Cardiologists and another team of 2 Psychiatrists.

9.      In addition, a pool of around 40 Medical Officers has been constituted to be deployed on the request of UttarakhandGovt, as and when needed.

10.  Hon HFM / Chairman, IRCS directed Red Cross to provide all possible help as soon as the disaster struck.

11.  2 teams from the National HQ deployed in Uttarkashi and Pithoragarh on 19th June, 2013.

12.  A High Level team visited Uttarakhand to coordinate with the State Red Cross.

13.  7 truck-loads of material provided.

14.  8 National Disaster Response Teams stationed.

15.  300-400 First Respondents working to provide first aid.

16.  2,000 Family Packs; which include tarpaulins, mosquito nets and utensils sent. Each Family Pack is self-sustaining for 15 days.

17.  1,000 Tents provided.

18.  3,000 extra tarpaulins and 300 kerosene lamps sent.

19.  1,100 body bags sent by Red Cross and 500 by MoHFW; Total: 1,600.

20.  2 Water Sanitation Units being deployed along with volunteers to operate. 1 Unit is capable of producing 3,000 – 4,000 litres of safe potable water every hour.

21.  Dr. S.P. Aggarwal Secretary General, IRCS is visiting Uttarakhand tomorrow to coordinate Red Cross Relief efforts.


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