DGHS issues emergency directives to ensure healthcare in flood hit areas

The directives were sent today to all divisional health directors, civil surgeons and upazila health officials across the country through a letter signed by Abu Hossain Md. Moinul Ahsan, Director of the DGHS Hospital and Clinic Branch.

The decisions were taken at a virtual meeting held on July 10 with DGHS Director General Professor Dr. Pravath Chandra Biswas.

The meeting adopted seven special decisions, including cancellation of leave for officials and employees if necessary, to ensure uninterrupted medical services in flood-affected areas.

According to the decisions, focal persons must be appointed at all flood-affected upazila, district and divisional levels.

They will maintain round-the-clock coordination with the control room and the Directorate General of Health Services and their mobile phone numbers must be shared with the relevant organisations and individuals.

The directives also instructed the formation of the required number of medical teams in all affected upazilas and districts to ensure emergency healthcare services for flood-hit people.

At the same time, officials have been asked to regularly inform the media about flood response activities through press conferences or press releases.

To this end, an emergency press conference has been scheduled for July 12 to highlight healthcare services being provided to flood-affected people.

The meeting further decided that adequate stocks and supplies of essential medicines, oral rehydration salts (ORS), saline and water purification tablets must be ensured in all flood-affected upazilas to provide emergency healthcare services.

In addition, all affected upazilas have been instructed to maintain adequate stocks of anti-snake venom for the treatment of snakebite patients.

If necessary, the supply should be ensured through coordination with neighbouring healthcare institutions.

The directives also called for necessary measures to protect the health of pregnant women and children and instructed that expectant mothers be transferred to hospitals under government arrangements whenever required.

In this regard, coordination with the Family Planning Department has also been advised.

To ensure uninterrupted healthcare services in flood-affected upazilas and districts, the authorities have been instructed to ensure the presence of doctors, nurses, midwives and other healthcare workers.

The decisions also mentioned that necessary measures, including cancellation of leave if required, should be taken, reports BSS.