The Health & Family Welfare Minister Mr. Balbir Singh Sidhu today issued instructions to all Civil Surgeons to proactively monitor the ongoing medical camps being undertaken by the Government in the flood affected regions. The need to ensure all medical facilities reach all those needy timely and regularly was paramount, the Minister said lauding the department for their wholehearted efforts in this regard. He said that state government would suitably honour officials and officers for their commendable service .Disclosing this here today, Mr. Balbir Singh Sidhu said that to avoid any epidemic and after effects of stagnant and polluted water which causes water borne, vector borne, skin and other communicable diseases, the medical camps are being organised in the flood affected area by the Health Department since August 18. As many as 10,755 patients have been treated in the medical camps and no deaths have been reported till now. He also said that the Civil Surgeons are duty bound to ensure the availability of all essential medicines in the medical camps.
Divulging about camps organized in badly affected villages which are cut off due to water logging, the minister said that 20 Medical Mobile Teams in District Jalandhar and 21 Medical Mobile Teams in District Kapurthala have been deputed per village. “Instructions have already been issued to the Civil Surgeons to personally monitor the functioning of medical camps so as to ensure the quality treatment services”, he added.The Health Minister further stated that ORS and chlorine tablets are also being distributed. Although, Civil Surgeons have been directed asked to locally purchase chlorine tablets and in case of an emergency the Punjab Health System Corporation would make the necessary arrangements of the chlorine tablets. He said that as per report submitted by the civil surgeons all affected districts have adequate stock of necessary medicines. Ambulances have been kept ready with medical camp for referral cases. He also said that stock of larvicide and insecticide has already maintained with districts under the National Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme. He said that the District teams have now been working to identify high risk areas in the respective flood affected villages and cities so that pre measures would be taken to avoid any epidemic.He appealed to the people of State that in wake of any outbreak report in ravaged area, anyone can contact at toll free number 104 helpline to get medical help.