The government has made maximum preparations to continue healthcare services in the country's flood-hit 11 districts, said Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain.
He said this at a press conference organized on healthcare activities in flood-hit areas at the conference room of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare at the Secretariat on Monday afternoon.
The Health Minister has said that several districts in the Chattogram region have been flooded due to heavy rains and landslides for several days. Although this has disrupted communication, economy and healthcare services, the government has taken measures to deal with the situation quickly.
“The leave of health workers in risky districts has been canceled to ensure that they perform their duties at the field level. Adequate medicines, saline, anti-venoms, doctors and health workers have been kept ready so that no patient is deprived of treatment anywhere,” he said. “If necessary, additional medical teams will also be sent from the central level.”
The Health Minister said, “When water entered the ground floor of a hospital, doctors, nurses and health workers took risks and moved medical supplies to a safe place at night. At the same time, health workers in 11 flood-affected districts have been instructed to cancel their leave and perform their duties at the field level.”
He said, “Special healthcare activities are currently being conducted in 11 districts including Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Bandarban, Rangamati, Khagrachari, Feni, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Chandpur, Cumilla and Brahmanbaria. One senior doctor has been assigned to monitor the overall health situation in each district. In addition, the control room of the Ministry of Health is working round the clock to collect and coordinate information.”
He further said, “The situation is being monitored in round the clock coordination with the district administration, civil surgeon, hospital authorities and local administration. Instructions have been given to ensure healthcare especially for pregnant women, children and people in remote areas.”
Regarding the snakebite incident, the minister said that an alert has been issued in advance due to the fear of increased snake infestation during the flood. People have been urged to take them to the hospital quickly instead of going to the witch doctors. Five snakebite patients were admitted to the hospital on the first night of the flood. They have been given anti-venom and all are healthy. So far, 95 snakebite patients have been treated.
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