Health deptt mobilizes urgent measures in response to Valley's weather conditions

SRINAGAR: As the Valley grapples with the challenges posed by its prevailing weather conditions, the Health Department springs into action, spearheading comprehensive measures to safeguard public health and ensure timely response to potential emergencies.
Under the directive of the Director of Health Services Kashmir, a circular has been issued outlining urgent protocols to be executed by Health Care Service Providers.
These measures are designed to fortify hospitals and medical facilities, activate disaster management cells, enhance surveillance, and coordinate emergency response efforts to mitigate the impact of floods and other calamities on public health.
A circular reads, “In view of prevailing weather conditions in the valley, the Health Care Service Providers of the Health Department need to execute the following measures on an urgent basis”.
As per the circular, all the hospitals that are in flood-prone areas will be asked to activate their emergency plans consisting of shifting the major medical equipment to the higher floors, stocking additional medicines, consumables, supplies, fuel and mess requirements, so that they are able to function in even in case of floods.
Activating Disaster Management Cells at District/Block level and in all Hospitals to cater any kind of medical emergency that may arise. Initiate measures required to take control of Outbreaks, Epidemics including enhanced surveillance and management to be coordinated by the District IDSP and strengthen the Primary Health Centres to improve the capacity of surveillance and control of epidemics.
Hospitals have been asked to ensure the availability of survival/emergency kits during disaster situation including additional fuel, mess arrangements, etc. Arrangement of Rubber Boa, with requisition of Live Jackets from SDRF Department to provide hassle free medical services during the floods
An emergency plan needs to be chalked out in case the Territory Care Hospitals are submerged by the adjacent Districts viz Pulwama, Ganderbal, Srinagar and Budgam, it reads.
Ensuring that trained medical staff is in operation to attend all types of sick and injury cases, with the creation of backup teams can create teams of specialists at the district level, who can be deployed at short notice in the affected areas and will include additional surgical supplies and mobility support, it added.
In case of landslides in hilly areas, an action plan needs to be framed to tackle the medical emergency well in time.
Oversees the arrangement of ambulance service; in the absence of transport facilities, adequate mapping plans to the nearest health units and local transport facilities need to be networked, including the requirements of water transport (Rubber Boats), it reads.
In the backdrop of the above, all the Chief Medical Officers, Medical Superintendents & Block Medical Officers are enjoined up on to ensure that the points as mentioned earlier are followed and implemented in a timely manner and also points discussed in today’s meeting held under the chairmanship of Director Health Service Kashmir in case forecasted floods are occurred.