Govt, civic body gear up to tackle outbreak of water-borne diseases in Indore

After 54 hours of incessant rain fury, the Indore health department and the Municipal Corporation are all set to tackle any water-borne outbreak that may plague the city, especially in low-lying areas.

After 54 hours of incessant rain fury, the Indore health department and the Municipal Corporation are all set to tackle any water-borne outbreak that may plague the city, especially in low-lying areas.

Speaking to Hindustan Times, chief medical and health officer (CMHO) Shantilal Porwal said the health department is gearing up to deal with any situation after the recent rains. Porwal said he is in constant touch with the district collector and doctors have been pressed into service.

Furnishing details about the health department’s preparedness, CMHO Porwal said one doctor and a nurse have been deputed at each ward to keep watch on the health situation.

“The department deployed 69 doctors and an equal number of nurses in Indore. Each doctor and nurse will visit their respective wards between 2 pm and 5 pm every day. After visiting their respective wards, they need to prepare a daily health report of their ward and submit it to me,” Porwal said. “Once we get the reports, it will be handed over to the district collector.”

Additionally, four special teams have been formed to deal with any critical situation that may arise. Each team comprises a doctor, a pharmacist and two nurses.

The department has also distributed chlorine tablets, bleaching powder and oral rehydration solution (ORS) sachets to the most vulnerable areas, particularly the low-lying areas that are most vulnerable to various kinds of outbreaks.

However, no cases of water-borne illnesses have been reported in the district so far.

“Thankfully, no case of diarrhoea or other waterborne diseases have been reported in any part of the city,” the CMHO said.

Meanwhile, when contacted, Indore Municipal Corporation chief health officer Dr KS Verma said the IMC health and sanitation department was taking all necessary steps to check any outbreak in the city, including spraying insecticides, clearing stagnant water and other anti-larval activities.

It is to be mentioned here that waterlogging makes progress slow for health workers in inaccessible areas.