FLOOD AFTERMATH|| Harsh Vardan cautions State Govt on epidemic outbreak Centre to take charge of healthcare in Kashmir BJP leaders asked to identify safe buildings for setting up make shift hospitals Fazal Khan Srinagar, Sept 25: Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, who recently visited Kashmir has advised the State Government to take necessary precautions to prevent outbreak of epidemic in the flood hit Valley. Sources told Early Times that the Union Health Minister expressed dismay over the fact that even 18-days after floods hit Kashmir no effort has been put to set up make shift emergency hospitals. Situation after floods can take an ugly turn. Its really disappointing to note that no preventive measures have been taken in advance to ensure that people dont suffer, Harsh Vardhan is understood to have told the State Government officials. Sources said that medical team which accompanied the Union Health Minister warned that soon after the flood waters would recede there is every possibility of viral infections and water borne diseases gripping the Valley. Whenever flood has hit any state in India, its aftermath has been horrible. Epidemic breaking out after floods is inevitable, the medical team is understood to have opined. It advised the State Government to ensure that children upto 15 years should be administered anti-Cholera, anti-Measles and oral Polio vaccines irrespective of previous immunization history. The team asked the State Health Department to carry out massive awareness campaign to ensure that people follow the health advisories in letter and spirit. Children are the most vulnerable lot. Their immunization system is weak and they have to be made strong to ensure that they dont fall prey to any infection or disease, the medical team had said. The Union Health Minister, according to the sources, has asked the state BJP leaders to identify the safe buildings which can be turned into temporary hospitals. The Health Minister has asked us to identify the buildings within one week. He told us that Centre would enter into an agreement with private health players and would ask them to set up the make shift hospitals in the Valley so that if any epidemic breaks out it can be taken care off, a senior BJP leader told Early Times. He said that they are on the job and they would send the list of the safe buildings to centre within the stipulated time. Center doesnt want to take chances as Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given clear cut instructions to the Union Health Minister not to rely on state machinery completely, the leader said. He said at least healthcare would be dealt directly by the Centre Government. Major hospitals in the city are still submerged and the equipments have either become defunct or have been washed away by the floods. State Government is finding it hard to mobilize its men and machinery and is still in a shock. If we wait for State Government to act it can prove disastrous as its not equipped to deal with any eventuality, the leader added. Asked if centre takes charge of healthcare wont it tantamount to meddling in the internal affairs of the state, the BJP leader said, State Governments response to the floods has been very poor. We dont want people to die in absence of hospitals and medicines. Pertinently, speculations about centre taking charge of post flood operations have been making rounds for the past many days. There are rumours that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah may be asked to step down to pave for the imposition of Governors rule in Jammu and Kashmir, and to ensure that no politics is played over relief and rehabilitation work.
Posted on: Fri, 26 Sep 2014 05:34:59 +0000
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