Bhubaneswar: Odisha Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling on Monday reviewed the restoration of healthcare services in flood-affected areas of Ganjam district and directed officials to ensure uninterrupted medical facilities, deploy additional mobile health units and strengthen disease surveillance.
During his visit to several flood-affected areas and healthcare institutions, Mahaling inspected the Sub-Divisional Hospital (SDH) at Asika and reviewed the availability of medical services, patient amenities, attendance of doctors and healthcare workers, sanitation and biomedical waste management.
He directed officials to ensure proper segregation and disposal of biomedical and general waste, regular cleaning of hospital premises and an uninterrupted power supply to healthcare institutions. He also stressed the need for adequate backup power arrangements to prevent disruptions to emergency services, surgeries and laboratory operations.
In view of the disruption to regular hospital services caused by the floods, the Minister directed officials to make two temporary hospitals operational at Kendriya Vidyalaya and the Women’s College in Asika. Medical services have already commenced at the Women’s College.
The temporary facilities will provide primary and emergency medical services, while patients requiring advanced treatment will be referred to appropriate hospitals, officials said.
The government will deploy an additional 21 Mobile Health Units (MHUs) in remote and waterlogged areas to ensure medical assistance reaches people in inaccessible locations. These units and medical teams will be mobilised from neighbouring districts.
Of the proposed deployment, 10 mobile health units had arrived and started functioning as of Monday. They will conduct health check-ups, distribute essential medicines and provide emergency medical advice.
The Minister also directed officials to strengthen disease surveillance and preventive measures in view of the increased risk of fever, diarrhoea, vomiting, skin diseases and other waterborne and infectious diseases following the floods.
Sanitary napkins are also being distributed among women in the affected areas. Four additional Food Safety Officers will be deployed on Tuesday to inspect food quality and safety, he said.
Mahaling also discussed the participation of private healthcare institutions in the relief efforts. Five private institutions — Hi-Tech, Apollo, SUM, Vikas and Mahanadi Netra Chikitsalaya — are expected to extend healthcare services in the affected areas from Tuesday.
He said coordination between government and private healthcare institutions was important to ensure timely medical assistance to people affected by natural disasters.
The Minister subsequently visited the Jagamohan and Jahada Community Health Centres (CHCs) and reviewed the availability of medical services, medicines and other essential supplies. He also enquired about the healthcare needs of local residents and directed officials to address their concerns without delay.
Apart from healthcare, Mahaling reviewed the restoration of other essential services, including telecommunication and drinking water supply.
He asked BSNL and other service providers to restore mobile network connectivity at the earliest, stating that effective communication was essential for coordination among ambulance services, healthcare workers, the administration and the public during emergencies.
He also directed officials to ensure the availability of safe drinking water in flood-affected areas through regular water quality testing, maintenance of water sources and alternative supply arrangements wherever necessary.
The Minister instructed officials of all concerned departments to treat the restoration of essential services as a priority and ensure timely implementation of decisions at the ground level through regular monitoring.
He also asked officials to listen to people’s grievances with sensitivity and address their problems promptly.
The State Government is accelerating post-flood restoration and rehabilitation measures to restore healthcare services and other essential infrastructure, including drinking water, electricity and communication facilities, in the affected areas.
Special Secretary (Technical) Dr Bhawani Shankar Mishra, Ganjam District Collector Keerthi Vasan V, Bhanjanagar Sub-Collector Uma Shankar Behera, Director of Public Health, Berhampur CDMO Dr Kameshwar Rao, Additional Director Dr Subhasish Mohanty, Food Safety Director Sanjay Ray and OCAC Telecom Adviser, among other officials, accompanied the Minister during the visit.
