Health Secretary Reviews Post-Flood Response in Jammu Kashmir

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir’s Secretary of Health and Medical Education, Dr Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, chaired a high-level meeting today to assess the Union Territory’s preparedness and response to post-flood public health risks. He issued urgent directives for rapid health assessments, disease surveillance, and restoration of medical services in flood-affected areas.

Senior officials including Directors of Health Services Jammu and Kashmir, Heads of Departments, Principals and Medical Superintendents of Government Medical Colleges, CMOs, the Managing Director JKMSCL, State Surveillance Officers, and the State Malariologist attended the review meeting.

Dr Shah underscored the need for immediate health assessments of impacted populations, the functionality of health facilities, medicine availability, sanitation, and cold chain management. He directed CMOs to compile and submit flood damage reports at the earliest.

Daily disease surveillance under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) was mandated for diarrhoea, cholera, hepatitis A and E, leptospirosis, malaria, dengue, acute respiratory infections, and snakebite cases. Officers were instructed to report any clustering of cases without delay and activate Rapid Response Teams accordingly.

Further, the Secretary called for swift restoration of damaged health facilities, deployment of mobile medical teams and camps, and the uninterrupted supply of essential items including ORS, IV fluids, vaccines, antibiotics, anti-snake venom, anti-rabies serum, and anti-malarial drugs.

Coordination with the Jal Shakti Department was also stressed to ensure safe drinking water through chlorination and distribution of chlorine tablets, along with regular water quality monitoring at public sources and relief camps.

The Secretary directed intensified vector control efforts—such as fogging, larvicidal operations, and residual spraying—particularly in areas with stagnant water. He also highlighted the need for effective sanitation, drainage, waste disposal, routine immunisation, and regular health check-ups in relief camps.

Dr Shah emphasised public awareness regarding the use of ORS, safe water practices, early detection of illnesses like fever, diarrhoea, or jaundice, and proper snakebite first aid. He also called for timely evacuation of pregnant women nearing their due date from inaccessible areas to nearby health centres.

He concluded with a call for strict inter-departmental coordination, close monitoring, and prompt action to reduce public health risks. He also reminded the public of key helplines: 104 for health concerns, 102/108 for ambulance services, and 14416 for mental health support through the Tele-MANAS helpline.