Senior health officers deployed in four Odisha districts for post-flood management

Odisha Deploys Senior Health Officials to Four Flood-Hit Districts

In response to the receding floodwaters, the Odisha government on Saturday deputed senior health and family welfare officials to four affected districts: Balasore, Bhadrak, Keonjhar and Jajpur. Special Secretary Dr Bijay Mishra has been assigned to Balasore, while Public Health Director Dr Rabindra Mishra has been sent to Bhadrak. Family Welfare Director Dr Rajendra Panigrahi and Health Services Director Dr MM Panda have been deputed to Keonjhar and Jajpur respectively.

The officials conducted field assessments over the weekend, according to a report by The Times of India. State Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling visited Bhadrak on Sunday to review the post-flood health situation, noting that diarrhoea, snakebite cases and safe deliveries for pregnant women remain major challenges in the affected areas.

"We have made antivenom injections available at the primary health centre-level in the flood-affected districts to manage snakebite cases," said Mahaling. "Proper arrangements have been made for the safe evacuation of pregnant women for delivery. Health teams are already working on the ground in the flood-affected areas to monitor the situation, especially cases of diarrhoea and other waterborne diseases."

During a review meeting at the office of the chief district medical and public health officer in Bhadrak, the minister said a control room helpline (9439994459) has been issued and 16 mobile relief centres have been made functional. He added that 34 medical teams, eight rapid action teams and 10 mobile health units have been deployed in the district, with a special medical team from Cuttack continuously monitoring the situation. Local Ayushman Arogya Mandir subhealth centres are being kept open round the clock.

Mahaling reported that 55 pregnant women from affected areas have been shifted to safe locations, and 21 have had safe deliveries. All snakebite patients have been provided antivenom and are now healthy. He instructed officials to maintain adequate stocks of antivenoms, halogen tablets, ORS and other essential medicines.

Chief Secretary Anu Garg emphasized that the Health department is taking preventive measures to ensure no epidemic or disease outbreak occurs following the prolonged flooding. She said sanitation and disinfection of villages that remained submerged for an extended period will be the highest priority, and extensive cleaning of submerged villages, roads and public places will be undertaken once floodwaters recede.

Garg stressed the importance of preventing waterborne and communicable diseases, ensuring drinking water safety, maintaining essential medicine stocks, providing healthcare services, and responding promptly to health issues. She said steps will be taken to clean and disinfect drinking water sources and immediately remove decaying food items, animal carcasses and other decomposable materials from affected areas.

"The state government is working with full commitment to ensure continuous field-level surveillance, early identification of potential health risks and their prompt management," Garg said.