Bhubaneswar: Odisha govt has deputed senior health and family welfare department officials to flood-hit districts to supervise post-flood health measures, monitor disease risks and ensure timely medical support to affected communities.The officials left for their assigned districts on Saturday morning and started assessing healthcare arrangements at the field level. They have been directed to work in coordination with district administrations, chief district medical and public health officers, block-level teams and local health workers to review preparedness and respond to emerging health concerns.As part of the deployment, special secretary Dr Bijay Mishra has been sent to Balasore, director of public health Dr Rabindra Mishra to Bhadrak, director of family welfare Dr Rajendra Panigrahi to Keonjhar and director of health services Dr M M Panda to Jajpur.Chief secretary Anu Garg said the health department has initiated a series of preventive measures to avert any disease outbreak in areas affected by prolonged flooding. She said sanitation, cleaning and disinfection would be given top priority, particularly in villages that remained submerged for several days. “Once the water recedes, large-scale cleaning and disinfection of inundated villages, roads and public places will be taken up,” Garg said.Officials said the govt is focusing on prevention of water-borne and communicable diseases, safe drinking water supply, adequate stock of essential medicines and uninterrupted access to healthcare services. Health teams have also been asked to remain alert for fever, diarrhoea, skin infections, snakebite cases and other post-flood health complications.The department is reviewing availability of medicines, bleaching powder, halogen tablets, oral rehydration salts, anti-diarrhoeal drugs and other emergency supplies in the affected districts. Medical teams are expected to conduct field visits, organise health camps where required and ensure referral of serious cases to higher facilities.According to official sources, the presence of senior officers in the districts will help improve supervision, speed up decision-making and strengthen coordination among departments involved in relief and restoration work.The revenue and disaster management department has also instructed field officials to ensure cleaning and disinfection of drinking water sources. Steps will be taken for quick removal of spoiled food, animal carcasses and other decomposed materials from flood-affected areas to prevent contamination and spread of diseases.The govt said continuous surveillance would be maintained in vulnerable pockets for early detection of health risks. Officials have been asked to submit regular reports from the ground and take immediate corrective measures wherever gaps are noticed in healthcare delivery, sanitation or water safety.
