Bhubaneswar: With the floodwaters receding, the Odisha government has deployed senior Health Department officials to flood-affected districts to monitor the post-flood health situation and step up preventive measures against disease outbreaks.
The officials left for their assigned districts on Saturday and began reviewing healthcare arrangements on the ground. They will coordinate with district administrations and local health officials to assess emerging health risks and ensure timely intervention.
Special Secretary to Government Dr Bijay Mishra has been assigned to Baleshwar, DPH Dr Rabindra Mishra to Bhadrak, DFW Dr Rajendra Panigrahi to Kendujhar and DHS Dr M. M. Panda to Jajpur.
Chief Secretary Anu Garg said the department was taking extensive preventive measures to prevent epidemics or disease outbreaks in areas affected by prolonged flooding.
Sanitation and disinfection of villages that remained submerged will be given top priority once the waters recede. Cleaning and disinfection of affected villages, roads and public places will also be undertaken.
The department will focus on preventing water-borne and communicable diseases, ensuring safe drinking water, maintaining adequate stocks of essential medicines and providing uninterrupted healthcare services.
Officials will also oversee the cleaning and disinfection of drinking water sources and ensure the immediate removal of spoiled food, animal carcasses and other decomposable material left behind by the floods.
The government will maintain field-level surveillance for early detection of health risks and ensure their prompt management, officials said.
