The natural disaster that hit Uttarakhand not only wrecked infrastructures but also villagers and pilgrims fell into the clutches of the diseases. Apart from the fractures in the different parts of the body that were reported in the Government-run health centres, gastroenteritis cases were among the most common among the villagers. However, department officials completely ruled out any chance of epidemic in the disaster-hit areas of the State.
The fleet of additional 101 medicos excluding 40 specialist doctors that were deployed in the disaster-hit districts diagnosed 34,294 patients in Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Dehradun, Pithoragarh, Haridwar, Bageshwar and Pauri Garhwal districts respectively and out that, 35 per cent (12,101) patients were seen by the medicos in Uttarkashi district and 116 patients were admitted in the Government hospitals. A total of 4,537 patients were diagnosed and 401 patients were admitted in the Rudraprayag district, which is the highest number in all the disaster affected areas of the State.
Additionally, 10,316 patients consulted medical officers and 48 patients were admitted in Chamoli district whereas 5,273 patients were given treatment and 168 were admitted in Pithoragarh district. A total of 1,420 patients underwent the trauma of disaster and marginally low seven patients were admitted in the Bageshwar district of the Kumaon division of Uttarakhand.
The department has admitted 1,243 patients in the Government run health centres so far in all the disaster hit areas of the State. Well established sources revealed that during the first phase of the relief measures, a total of 43 medical teams comprising 313 medical officers and 4,977 paramedical staff were deployed in the affected districts. The department has also laid special stress on the supply of essential medicines through air as well through road in all the affected districts of Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Uttarkashi, Pithoragarh and Haridwar districts of the State.
“In order to prevent epidemic in the disaster hit areas of the State, the department had distributed 16,13,000 chlorine tablets in affected districts and 51,000 kg bleaching powder, 50 litre of anti-fly solution and 2700 Kg lime have been distributed to the disaster hit areas of the State,” he said, adding that awareness campaign are being conducted to promote hygiene, safe drinking water and sanitation practices.
All the diarrhea cases detected so far have been given medical treatment, rapid response teams were deployed and situation is under total control with no new cases being reported. Apart from the above, five public health teams and 11 psychiatrists are working in the affected areas of Rudraprayag, Badrinath, Pithoragarh and Chamoli districts.
In an exclusive interaction with The Pioneer that, State Health Minister, SS Negi said that Chief Medical Officers of all the 13 districts of the state have been instructed to provide best possible round the clock medical and health services to the patients.