Assisting flood victims :

Provincial Health Minister praises his staff, other personnel

Text and picture CHRISTIE FERNANDO, Chilaw special correspondent

Wayamba Provincial Council Health Minister Asoka Wadigamangawa addressing a media conference said he was grateful to the health staff and all other personnel who attended to the needs of the marooned flood victims in the Puttalam district.

He said there were sinister elements that used this catastrophic situation to achieve their political ends by resorting to trade union action to obtain their demands.

It was a time when aggrieved families were compelled to leave their homes when their localities were inundated with flood waters in the past few days.

The provincial minister was speaking at a meeting at the Health Services Deputy Provincial Director's office auditorium, Madampe, Chilaw on December 21. Chilaw General Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Dinusha Jayasinghe and the hospital staff rendered their services efficiently to assist the patients. As the ground-floor wards were submerged with rain water, over a hundred in-door patients were temporarily evacuated to the Marawila base hospital and the patients were taken care of by the doctors and nurses there. Wadigamangawa said, the rains have now subsided but it was an occasion to take speedy measures to adopt preventive measures to eradicate the spread and control of outbreak of communicable diseases.

Health Services Regional Epidemiologist Dr Thushani Dabrera delivering the key-note address said the dislodged families should be provided with sanitary facilities and safe drinking water.

Fungal infections could cause irreparable impairment to their health.

Dr Dabrera emphasized that distribution of safe water through local government bodies and well-wishers was being carried out. The displaced families were given a knowledge in general health and cleanliness,” she said.

She said, “it was praiseworthy that the Red Cross and the World Vision co-operated to provide urgent humanitarian services when the beleaguered families most needed assistance.

Dr Dabrera pointed out that disinfectants were sprayed to toilets and soap and water were also provided to the victims. Special care was taken to attend to the disposal of refuse and the sanitary, burial of garbage and waste matter.

Mobile health clinics were conducted three to four times a week give an awareness on healthy habits to prevent an outbreak of epidemics.

Dr Dabrera said. “The medical officer of health and Public Health officers were on duty. Under their supervision, wells in the affected places were cleaned with the support of the World Vision. Chlorination of wells was also done.”

Wayamba Provincial Director of Health Services Dr R M S K Ratnayake said it was unwise and futile to resort to Trade Union action as every year the overtime dues of minor staff were paid at the end of each ensuing year without fail and this was never neglected or forsaken during his tenure in office during the past 18 years, Dr Ratnayake said.

Private Secretary to the Provincial Health Minister Dr P N Senadeera, several doctors and media personnel presented information at this meeting on the current flood situation at a number of electorates in Chilaw, Arachchikattuwa, Pallama, Mahawewa and a part of Puttalam where hundreds of families were isolated and stranded by the floods.

The affected families were removed for shelter at the selected centres.