The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has issued eight directives for flood-affected areas.
These directives were outlined in a notice signed by Dr Abu Hossain Md Moinul Ahsan, director (Hospital and Clinics) of the DGHS, on Thursday.
The directives are as follows:
- A 24/7 control room must be operational at the offices of all civil surgeons and upazila health and family planning officers in the flood-affected areas.
- Medical teams must be formed and kept ready at all times to deal with the disaster, equipped with primary medical supplies.
- Every healthcare facility in the flood-affected areas must be prepared to address potential health risks, such as diarrhea, snake bites, and other flood-related diseases. Adequate stocks of water purification tablets, oral saline, antivenom, and other supplies must be maintained.
- All equipment in flood-affected hospitals must be stored in elevated areas to prevent damage.
- Emergency and essential medical supplies must be stocked, and ambulances must be ready with primary medical supplies.
- All doctors, nurses, and staff in the flood-affected districts are not permitted to leave their workplaces without the approval of the divisional director (Health).
- Civil surgeons and upazila health and family planning officers in flood-affected areas are requested to maintain constant communication with the control room of the DGHS.
- Continuous coordination and communication must be maintained with the control room established by the local administration and the Department of Disaster Management to combat the flood situation.