Health teams rushed to flood-hit areas

Nadira Gunatilleke

The Health Ministry has taken steps to prevent epidemics in flood hit areas and protect people from diseases, a Ministry spokesman said. According to the spokesman, Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena yesterday instructed the Health Ministry Secretary to send five medical teams to Ampara, Batticaloa, Trincomalee and Polonnaruwa districts to control a possible outbreak of epidemics.

Minister Sirisena also instructed health authorities to maintain a smooth coordination to avoid any possible drug shortage in state hospitals in the flood hit districts.

The Ministry will provide drugs to the hospitals on request, he said.

The decisions were made during a special discussion at the Ministry.