Cyclone Amphan: Over 1,600 pregnant women shifted to hospitals in Odisha

BHUBANESWAR: Giving highest priority to the safety of pregnant women in view of the cyclonic storm Amphan amidst the fight against coronavirus, the state government has shifted over 1,600 such women, specially those in advanced stages of pregnancy, to various hospitals in eight coastal and adjoining districts.
According to official figures, highest 553 pregnant women have been shifted to hospitals in Balasore districts followed by 320 pregnant women in Kendrapada. Number of pregnant women shifted to various hospitals included 296 in Mayurbhanj, 160 in Bhadrak, 117 in Jajpur, 93 in Khurda, 36 in Jagatsinghpur and 27 in Puri. The number may slightly increase as evacuation process is still continuing in some northern districts, official sources said.
“As part of our disaster management strategy, safety of pregnant women is our top priority. The collectors were specifically asked to identify pregnant women through ASHA and anganwadi workers and shift them to nearest primary healthcare centres, community healthcare centres or district headquarters hospitals. So far, we have shifted around 1,600 pregnant women to hospitals while report is being collected from other districts,” Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) PK Jena told TOI.
Hundreds are ambulances were used for shifting of pregnant women especially from the interior pockets of these above districts while special care is being given to them at the hospitals.
As many of the coastal districts like Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapada have reported several Covid-19 positive cases, all safety measures are being taken by the healthcare professionals while shifting pregnant women to hospitals in view of the Covid-19 pandemic, said official sources.
As part of the healthcare preparedness in view of the cyclonic storm, the state government has made power back up arrangements in all hospitals with sufficient quantity stock of fuel. Mobile health teams have been formed for deployment to affected areas. Essential medicines, anti-snake venom have been kept ready in various hospitals to meet the emergency situation.
The state government has directed collectors to stock bleaching powder, ORS, Halogen tablets at the primary healthcare centres, community healthcare centres and district headquarters hospitals and also to ensure their availability up to ASHA level.
Emphasis has also been given for safety of children, old age persons and Divyangs as they have also been shifted to cyclone shelters on a priority basis in the coastal districts as cyclone passes through. Cooked food is being provided to the people at the cyclone relief shelters.