DGHS issues 8 guidelines for flood-hit areas

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:

1. 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.
2. Medical teams must be formed and kept ready at all times to deal with the disaster, equipped with primary medical supplies.
3. 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.
4. All equipment in flood-affected hospitals must be stored in elevated areas to prevent damage.
5. Emergency and essential medical supplies must be stocked, and ambulances must be ready with primary medical supplies.
6. 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).
7. 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.
8. 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.