By IANS,
New Delhi : Around 300 tonnes of medicines would be sent to flood-ravaged Bihar, which now faces an impending threat from various vector-borne and water-borne diseases, the health ministry Friday said.
“We are sending 37 varieties of medicines to tackle the health problem in Bihar. Fourteen million chlorine tablets, 630,000 doses of measles vaccine, malaria-testing kits and some other medicines have already dispatched,” said Health Secretary Naresh Dayal.
“Vaccination will be conducted in all relief camps,” he added.
Dayal said 100 fogging machines and thousands of auto-destructive syringes were being procured.
He stressed that the health infrastructure in Bihar has improved considerably over the last one-and-a-half years and “this will benefit the people” during such emergency situations.
“The government of Bihar has requested 50 ambulances. While 15 ambulances from Gujarat have already been dispatched, 20 from Andhra Pradesh are on their way. Delhi is also sending five ambulances,” he told reporters.
The health secretary said the Bihar government has been advised to take precautions against Kala Azar, a typical fever prevalent in the state.
“We will also vaccinate children against any possible Japanese encephalitis,” he said.
Dayal said that the Indian Red Cross Society has/vt already supplied 5,000 family packs consisting of saris, towels, dhotis, bed sheets, mosquito nets, kitchen sets and blankets.
“Red Cross has also sent 10 water purification machines to flood affected areas. One machine can purify 5,000 litres of water in eight hours,” he said.
Dayal added that the cabinet secretary was holding regular meetings about the flood situation and relief operations in Bihar.