The Gujarat Health Department has activated round-the-clock control rooms and intensified surveillance and emergency response measures across the state following heavy rainfall, with authorities stating that no major public health emergency has been reported so far.
According to a press release issued by the Chief Minister’s Office, the department implemented a comprehensive Monsoon Action Plan across all 34 districts and eight municipal corporations before and during the monsoon. The government said the measures have helped keep disease outbreaks largely under control despite widespread flooding and heavy rainfall.
The Health Department has been conducting regular health check-ups at relief camps for flood-affected residents. As part of precautionary measures, 675 pregnant women from vulnerable areas were shifted to healthcare facilities in advance, where 272 institutional deliveries were conducted, the release said.
To strengthen emergency preparedness, 24×7 Health Control Rooms have been set up at the state level, in all 34 districts and across eight municipal corporations. Rapid Response Teams are operational at the state, district and taluka levels, while each district has been provided with five additional Emergency Medical Teams, supported by dedicated vehicles and personnel.
A total of 1,496 ambulances under the 108 Emergency Service and 816 ambulances attached to Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs) have been kept on standby. PHCs and CHCs have also been equipped with backup generators and adequate diesel supplies to ensure uninterrupted healthcare services.
To prevent disease outbreaks in rain-affected areas, the department organised 6,868 medical camps where more than 1.74 lakh people underwent health check-ups and received treatment.
The release said over 18,000 surveillance teams are carrying out daily door-to-door visits to monitor public health. The teams have distributed more than 1.05 crore chlorine tablets and over 10.29 lakh ORS packets. More than 10.52 lakh residual chlorine tests have been conducted to ensure safe drinking water, while over 3,061 drinking water pipeline leakages have been repaired on priority.
Healthcare institutions across the state have also been stocked with more than 1.5 crore chlorine tablets, over 60 lakh ORS packets and 1,38,234 anti-snake venom (ASV) injections. ASV injections have also been deployed in 108 ambulances to facilitate prompt treatment of snakebite cases during the monsoon.
Following the receding of floodwaters, more than 7.61 lakh high-risk residents in 562 villages across Surat, Tapi, Valsad and Navsari districts have been administered Doxycycline as chemoprophylaxis against leptospirosis. In addition, 497 Vector Control Teams have been deployed to carry out anti-larval measures and spread awareness on preventing vector-borne diseases.
The first round of Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) has been completed in 106 high-risk villages, while the second round began on August 1. To curb mosquito breeding, larvivorous Gambusia fish have been released into 4,998 permanent water bodies.
The Health Department, in coordination with ASHA workers and Vector Control Teams, is also conducting public awareness campaigns on the prevention of monsoon-related diseases. According to the release, the state’s healthcare system remains fully prepared to respond to any health emergency during the ongoing monsoon season.
(With inputs from ANI)
