In the wake of situation arising out due to floods, Secretary Health Punjab has restrained the health authorities across the province from allowing any kind of leave to their subordinate staff, including doctors and para-medical staff.
Sources in the health department told Business Recorder that pursuant to directions of Punjab Chief Minister, health department is taking all possible measures to provide medical aid to people in relief camps and flood-hit areas of the province. Medical teams are working in the effected areas and extending proper medical care to the flood victims, they said.
According to them, the health department has intensified efforts to send medicines, anti-snake venom and food supplements to the flood-hit areas in the province. The federal government also provided medicines for affected districts of Punjab, including Mianwali, Layyah, Bhakkar, DG Khan and Rajanpur. To meet the challenge of spread of gastro-enteritis and cholera, cholera and IEHK kits have also been provided in the affected areas.
It may be mentioned that the Punjab government has already established Surveillance and Epidemic Response Cells at provincial, regional as well as at district levels to take effective measures to prevent out break of epidemics in the flood-hit districts and to carry out necessary epidemiological measures to control epidemics of gastro-enteritis, Malaria and measles.
Moreover, under the directions of Secretary Health Punjab, Lady Willington Hospital Lahore is sending a medical team of lady doctors, nurses and paramedics with relief goods and medicines to flood affected areas of Districts Muzzafargarh and Dera Ghazi Khan. Dr Muhammad Afzal Shaheen, Medical Superintendent, Lady Willington Hospital is leading the team carrying edibles, dry rations, mineral water, life saving drugs and operation theater's instruments for providing facilities to the flood hit people of Muzaffargarh and Dera Ghazi Khan.