Bhubaneswar: With the floodwaters receding, the Odisha government has deployed senior health officials to the affected districts to monitor the post-flood situation and step up preventive measures against disease outbreaks.
Sources said the officials left for their assigned districts on Saturday and began reviewing healthcare arrangements on the ground. They will coordinate with district administrations and local health officials to assess emerging health risks and ensure timely intervention.
Special Secretary to government Dr Bijay Mishra has been assigned to Baleshwar, DPH Dr Rabindra Mishra to Bhadrak, DFW Dr Rajendra Panigrahi to Kendujhar and DHS Dr M M Panda to Jajpur.
According to Chief Secretary Anu Garg, the department was taking extensive preventive measures to prevent epidemics or disease outbreaks in areas affected by prolonged flooding.
Sanitation and disinfection of villages that remained submerged will be given top priority once the waters recede. Cleaning and disinfection of affected villages, roads and public places will also be undertaken.
The department will focus on preventing water-borne and communicable diseases, ensuring safe drinking water, maintaining adequate stocks of essential medicines and providing uninterrupted healthcare services.
In addition, steps will be taken to ensure the cleaning and disinfection of drinking water sources and the immediate removal of decaying and spoiled food items, animal carcasses and other decomposable materials left behind in the affected areas after the floods.
Officials said the state government is working with full commitment to ensure continuous field-level surveillance, early identification of potential health risks and their prompt management ; thereby safeguarding the health and well-being of the people in the affected areas.