Drive Against Communicable Diseases in Kochi

In the wake of floods, health department has started measures to prevent spread of communicable diseases in the district. The department has sent doctors and field staff to 30 rehabilitation camps in the district. An official with health department said, “We have sent doctors and staff to all the rehabilitation camps in the district. Health department would provide medical aid and we are monitoring the situation,” said Dr NK Kuttappan, district medical officer, Ernakulam. According the health department, they have adopted a two-pronged strategy for addressing health issues and to prevent outbreak of communicable diseases. “The immediate focus is on providing medical aid to those in the rehabilitation camps and the families in the flood-affected areas. Once the water recedes, a drive will have to be started for carrying out preventive measures. A massive drive to check spread of communicable diseases will be started post the flood in many areas like Chellanam and Maradu,” said Dr Sreedevi, district surveillance officer, Ernakulam.

“We have asked all the doctors and health staff to shift pregnant women and the aged from the rehabilitation camps as a precaution. Inmates in some of the rehabilitation centers have already been shifted to hospitals with adequate facilities,” she said. “As per the residents in Chellanam, they witnessed floods in an unprecedented manner. There are chances for water being filled in septic tanks of toilets in the flood-hit areas. If so, waste from the septic tanks will spill over raising the threat of waterborne diseases. There were similar incidents during Ockhi as well,” she said. Chances are high for spreading waterborne diseases like diarrhea and leptospirosis in the flood-affected areas. Health department has urged the public to take precautionary measures like drinking boiled water and to maintain personal hygiene. – TOI