'16 districts of Punjab face flood threat'

There is a threat of flood in 16 districts of Punjab along Jehlum, Chenab and Sindh rivers, this was revealed in a meeting chaired by Secretary Health Punjab Mohammad Jehanzeb Khan here on Friday, to finalise safety arrangements for the monsoon season.
The meeting reviewed the measures for dealing with the situation in big cities due to expected rains and EDOs health were directed to finalise all precautionary measures. The instructions were also issued for making provincial, regional and district's rapid response teams functional immediately.
The secretary health has directed all Executive District Officers (EDOs) Health to immediately finalise safety arrangements for the forthcoming monsoon season. He also directed that the shortcomings detected during the previous years flood should be removed so that timely medical assistance could be extended to the flood affected people.
The meeting of Directors Health Services and EDOs health of all districts was also attended by Special Secretary Health Wasim Mukhtar, Director General Health Dr Muhammad Aslam Chaudhry, Addl. Secretary Technical Dr Mushtaq Ahmed Sulehriya, Project Director Health Sector Reforms Programme Farasat Ali, Director Health Management Information System Dr Muhammad Anwar Janjua as well as other officers concerned were present.
The meeting reviewed precautionary measures for coping with the situation arising out of expected floods in monsoon season. The officers of health department were directed to finalise the action plan with the consultation of DCOs of the respective districts and disaster management department and all arrangements should be completed by 31st July.
The meeting reviewed the arrangements for prevention of diseases may breakout during flood season, provision of vaccine against dog and snakebite, anti-mosquito spray for protection against dengue fever and malaria, availability of spray pumps, fogging machines, storage of essential medicines and hygienic measures at the camps of flood-affected people while necessary instructions were issued to officers in this regard.
The secretary health further directed that all arrangements should be completed well in time so that proper medical facilities could be provided to the affected people. He also directed that a strategy should also be evolved for safeguarding against outbreak of epidemics in the flood-hit areas. He said that special attention should be paid to the pregnant women, new-born babies and elderly persons and arrangements for vaccination should be made against the diseases caused by contaminated water. He said that it was the responsibility of EDOs health to ensure success of health programmes being implemented at district level.