As part of providing better health care to the people affected by floods, a team of doctors from the Government Medical College, Alappuzha, National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and District Medical Office have started conducting medical camps in the Kuttanad region
Officials said on Wednesday that 40 doctors, split into 15 teams, would visit different parts of the region in the coming days. The team comprising District Programme Manager K.R. Radhakrishnan, District Medical Officer (in charge) Jamuna Varghese and Anas Salih will prepare a protocol to deal with the threat of epidemic outbreak in Kuttanad and other flood-hit areas in the district.
Meanwhile, Public Works Minister G. Sudhakaran on Wednesday directed the Health Department and medical college authorities to keep vigil against a possible epidemic outbreak in the region. “There is a risk of an epidemic outbreak once the water receded. The Health Department should remain vigilant until the end of August,” he said.
Mr. Sudhakaran said the full-fledged flood relief operations would continue in the coming days. “The team comprising the District Collector, Additional District Magistrate and Revenue Divisional Officer is doing a commendable job. I have visited some 70 relief camps in the district in the last two days and found its functioning satisfactory. We will continue with the relief efforts,” Mr. Sudhakaran said.
The Minister said that pumping had commenced to drain water from the Alappuzha-Changanassery (AC) Road. “We are trying to drain out water and make the road motorable in the coming days. The State government will initiate steps to reconstruct the bunds damaged in the region. The issue has been brought to the notice of the Agriculture Minister. We will have to spend between ₹6 lakh and ₹10 lakh to reconstruct each bund. I have urged the Agriculture Minister to sanction a portion of the amount immediately,” he said.
Mr. Sudhakaran has warned of strict action against erring officials. “Dereliction of duty on the part of authorities has been noticed in a few areas. ” he said.
Died
An resident of a relief camp in Kuttanad died after she collapsed while preparing food on Wednesday. The deceased was identified as Girija, 41, of Kodathussery. She collapsed at Kodathussery camp in Thalavadi panchayat.