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The Centre has intensified emergency medical relief to the Tsunami affected states of Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh, Pondicherry and Kerala and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The Union Health and Family Welfare Minister, Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss is in Nagapattinam today to personally oversee the medical relief activities. The Minister has been in Chennai and has visited the coastal areas of Tamilnadu and Pondicherry. The Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Smt. Panabaka Lakshmi visited the Tsunami affected coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh for an on the spot assessment.
The Director General of Health Services, Dr. S.P. Aggarwal alongwith two senior officers has left for Chennai to further strengthen medical relief activities in the coastal belt. The Government of Pondicherry had requested for emergency medical stores including Typhoid Vaccine, Ciprofloxacin tablets and IV, Disposable IV sets and Chlorine tablets. All the items have been dispatched to Pondicherry. A three member central health team is camping in Nagapattinam since yesterday and is being reinforced by a ten member team drawn from the local central health facilities. A three member team consisting of medical specialists and a public health specialist is in Chennai. The team is coordinating with a fifteen member team from CGHS, Chennai for providing on the spot medical relief.
It may be recalled that a three member central health team alongwith medical emergency supplies has already reached Pondicherry and is coordinating with the 30 member team from JIPMER for providing medical relief in Pondicherry, Kariakkal and adjoining coastal areas.
A two member public health experts has visited the coastal districts of Nellore and Prakasham in Andhra Pradesh to assess the situation and assist the local authorities.
A five member team consisting physicians, surgeons and public health experts has reached Andaman & Nicobar alongwith emergency medical stores. They have been deputed to the district hospital of Car Nicobar and the hospital has been made functional round the clock. Another 12 member team from Kolkata has also reached Andaman & Nicobar islands alongwith essential emergency medical stores. The medicines dispatched to Andaman & Nicobar include Paracetamol, Cephlexin tablets and syrup, Erythromycin Stearate, Dizepam tablets, Roxid and Metrinidazole. The supplies also include Halazone Tablets, Bleaching Power and hospital bed sheets.
The Director General of Health Services today reviewed the situation with public health experts including International agencies like WHO to review the ongoing public health measures. As of today emergency medical relief amounting to Rs.40 lakhs has been supplied to the affected states. The health situation is being constantly reviewed by the Union Health Secretary and Director General of Health Services.
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