The state government has prepared a list of villages in each district which are prone to flooding and has accordingly alerted health officers to ensure disaster management cells are in place to tackle any untoward event during monsoon. On Saturday, state health minister Tanaji Sawant held a review meeting with top health officials to monitor the preparedness of districts to deal with natural disasters during monsoon.
Sawant directed officials to keep a close watch on the flood-prone areas and step up surveillance by conducting home visits for fever cases. “Health teams have been appointed and adequate stock of medicines have been distributed in the event of an outbreak of vector or water-borne diseases,” said health officials.
Officials from the health department have identified 4,067 high-risk villages that are prone to flooding, of which 702 are in Pune circle —188 villages in Pune district, 336 in Satara and 178 in Solapur. Rapid teams have been prepared and asked to remain alert during emergencies. Water container surveys are also being conducted to check for the presence of dengue causing aedes aegypti mosquitoes, said health officials.
In Mumbai circle, there are 90 villages in Raigad, 206 in Thane and 273 in Palghar that have been identified as high-risk zones. Kolhapur circle has identified 645 villages that are prone to flooding, while there are 522 such villages in Aurangabad circle. From setting up district-wise disaster management cells to monitoring flood prone areas, ensuring health teams have adequate stock of medicines, daily surveillance of fever cases in high-risk villages to keeping a strict watch on health of pregnant women, Dr Radhakrishna Pawar, deputy director (health), Pune circle has also sent a series of instructions to health officers in Pune, Solapur and Satara.
Medical officers and paramedical staff have also been trained to deal with emergencies, Dr Pawar said. “Immediate action is taken if the drinking water supply gets contaminated due to heavy rains and flooding. Tests are frequently conducted to ensure the availabiliy of safe drinking water, “ he added.
