Chennai, October 15 (IANS). Tamil Nadu Health Department has prepared a blueprint to deal with the problems caused by the North East monsoon. IMD has issued an alert of heavy rain here.
The Meteorological Department has already issued a red alert for several districts for Tuesday and Wednesday.
As part of preparations for the monsoon season, the state health department has constituted Rapid Medical Response Team (RRT) in all the districts.
Each RRT comprises a medical officer, staff nurse, village health nurse, health inspector besides all necessary medicines.
District Medical Officers will work in coordination with the RRTs in their respective districts. The District Medical Officers will also operate a command center consisting of RRTs from their offices to handle other emergencies that may arise during the monsoon.
Medical teams will be present in all rescue shelters in each district to deal with emergency situations.
‘108’ ambulances will also be on standby for emergency situations and will be deployed in flood-prone and vulnerable areas across the state. These ambulances will be filled with adequate fuel to be ready for any situation.
Meanwhile, the state health department has directed to follow well-defined protocols to handle mass casualty situations.
Hospitals have been instructed to maintain the availability and supply of emergency medicines, vaccines and beds.
The health department has communicated with all district medical officers to ensure hospital preparedness during monsoon, including availability of medical staff and essential medicines.
All district hospitals have also been instructed to ensure 24×7 power supply, backup generators and adequate fuel arrangements.
Officials said an emergency response plan will remain active to maintain continuity in the hospital’s supply and distribution chain.
Adequate disinfectants and insecticides will be kept for fogging the affected areas of each rescue shelter. The state health department will also carry out super-chlorination in all areas affected by floods or waterlogging.
Officials said the district administration and local bodies are responsible to ensure that the dead animals are disposed of immediately.
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin held a monsoon preparedness meeting at the Secretariat on Monday, where he directed all departments to remain alert in view of heavy rains.
–IANS
MKS/KR
