Uninterrupted healthcare for IDPs during rainy season

Nadira Gunatilleke

The Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry will make arrangements to protect the health of IDPs’ health during North Eastern Monsoon due shortly. The Ministry will ensure an uninterrupted comprehensive healthcare service for all IDPs during the rainy season.

Neither communicable diseases nor other health problems have been reported from the welfare villages so far, a Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry spokesman said.

He said arrangements will be made to cement the floors of the shelters, to keep extra tents ready for use during an emergency and to identify alternative accommodation places for flood prone areas, especially for the elders and disabled persons.

Existing health facilities will be strengthened and drug storing facilities will be increased. The ministry officials headed by Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva had a discussion in this regard recently.

According to the spokesman, the Ministry will also take steps to ensure that water and sanitation ware of high quality.

The existing system will be strengthened and water and sanitation supervised with the support of the PHIs and the number of permanent and temporary latrines increased in every zones. Steps will be taken to strengthen the water purification system by distributing chlorine tablets to households, water bowzers and all other water storage facilities.

The Ministry will also strengthen laboratory facilities at Vavuniya for testing of water quality and carry out super chlorination during floods. Health education will be provided for IDPs on water safety, personal hygiene and sanitation during floods to prevent communicable diseases and outbreak of epidemics.

Vector surveillance activities will be commenced immediately by entomological teams. The fly control measures will be further strengthened and a mechanism will be developed to improve supervision of garbage removal and disposal, he said.

The Ministry has also made arrangements to ensure the safety of healthcare providers by distributing raincoats, boots, umbrellas, torches and caps among them and vaccinating them against hepatitis and typhoid, he added.