The state health department on Saturday dispatched life-saving medication, surgical equipment and disinfectants worth Rs 1 crore to flood-affected districts in Kerala.
A section of public health officials have been deputed to visit Wayanad and Idukki districts. Tamil Nadu has supplied chlorine tablets for disinfecting water and bleach to sterilize water-inundated areas.
“As of now we have sent tablets including doxycycline, paracetamol and antibiotics and other medicines to treat and prevent water-borne diseases,” said health minister C Vijayabaskar. The kit also includes gloves and gauze to treat wounds.
“There are in areas where approach from the Kerala side is difficult. Our officials working in border areas like Nilgiris and Theni have set up camps to help people living in Kerala,” said director of public health Dr K Kolandaisamy.
Four doctors from each of these districts have been posted at Wayanad and Theni.
The public health clinics and health subcentres in the border areas are also open to people seeking treatment. “Ambulances that can travel with ease in border areas are now being put to use,” he said.
A variety of essentials including fruits and vegetables continued to pour in to collection points across southern Tamil Nadu and several trucks carrying the same headed to various parts of Kerala on Saturday. In the collection drive initiated by the
Madurai district administration, the first consignment worth Rs 75.88 lakh was sent to Idukki and Thiruvananthapuram districts in nine trucks.
Volunteers in Tuticorin have sent oxygen cylinders to the neighbouring state.
“Hospitals (in Kerala) are in need of oxygen cylinders and liquid oxygen. We contacted hospitals here and local manufacturers, through whom we mobilised oxygen cylinders and sent,” said Tuticorin district collector Sandeep Nanduri.
Volunteers load a truck with produce in Madurai. The first consignment worth 75 lakh was dispatched from Madurai in nine trucks
