Centre plans CRBN treatment facility in BBSR

| | BHUBANESWAR | in Bhubaneswar

The Union Government has proposed to establish a treatment facility in Bhubaneswar for people exposed to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) attacks as part of its comprehensive disaster management plan.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has intended to set up the project, to be funded fully be the Centre, in the capital city here.

Union Health Ministry Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal has sought permission of the State Government in this regard, said sources in the State Government.

The health facility would come up as per the International Health Regulations (2005) that mandates its signatories to address health emergencies caused by CBRN hazards. The regulations were made in view of accidents occurred at different places, including Bhopal (gas tragedy), across the world.

Agarwal said the Central scheme of Health Sector Disaster Preparedness and Response envisages setting up of secondary-level CBRN Medical Management Centres in existing health facilities in the off-site plans of nuclear power-plants and in cities vulnerable to terrorism.

As Odisha has no facility for treating CBRN victims, the Centre has decided to set up such a facility in Bhubaneswar. This would require land of about 2,500 square metres, preferably within the vicinity of an Emergency Trauma Centre in a health facility, to be identified by the State Government.

The Health Ministry would train medical personnel from various states to handle CBRN victims in collaboration with agencies such as the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in Mumbai. These trained personnel then become a part of State Rapid Response Team.

The proposed centre would be manned by a medical physicist.

The State Government would inform the Centre about the identified site for setting up the proposed secondary level CBRN Centre in Bhubaneswar, according to Agarwal.

Sources said that now the Health and Family Welfare Department and the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) are now examining the proposal in details and would take a decision in this regard.