Bhubaneswar: Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling on Thursday outlined special initiatives to safeguard pregnant women and bolster emergency medical response as flooding affects parts of Odisha.
The minister emphasised proactive steps to evacuate expectant mothers to safer areas and ensure swift transfers to hospitals, while also tackling a expected surge in snakebite cases during the monsoon floods.
Mahaling highlighted that shifting pregnant women remains one of the biggest operational challenges for health teams in flood situations. “Key challenges during floods include moving pregnant women to safe locations and transporting them to hospitals. Snakebite incidents also increase during floods. A review committee, chaired by the Principal Secretary of the Health and Family Welfare Department, has been constituted to oversee these matters. Chief District Medical Officers and District Magistrates have been instructed to closely monitor the flood situation and immediately provide emergency relief, medical care, and essential supplies…,” he told reporters.
He further stated that ASHA workers have been mobilised on the ground to identify women in advanced stages of pregnancy, help move them to secure locations, and arrange transportation to maternity wards. “These measures have currently been implemented in three districts, and there are plans to extend them to a fourth district depending on the flood situation,” he added.
Earlier, Health Secretary Aswathy S reviewed emergency readiness across rain-hit areas, stressing stockpiles of anti-snake venom, essential medicines, ORS, and focused care for vulnerable groups including pregnant women, children, and the elderly. She also called for shifting expectant mothers nearing delivery to facilities when needed and ensuring ambulance support even in cut-off zones.
Meanwhile, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari indicated that the overall flood situation remains under control, with improving conditions reported in the worst-hit districts and free kitchens operational to support affected populations.
