Health workers’ leave cancelled in 11 flood-hit dists: Minister

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain said on Monday that the government has cancelled the leave of health workers in 11 flood-affected districts to ensure uninterrupted medical services.

Speaking at a press briefing at the secretariat, the minister said special health services were being provided in Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Bandarban, Rangamati, Khagrachhari, Feni, Noakhali, Lakshmipur, Chandpur, Cumilla and Brahmanbaria.

The minister said adequate stocks of medicines, oral saline, antivenom and medical personnel had been kept ready, while additional medical teams would be deployed if needed.

Senior doctors have been assigned to oversee the health situation in each affected district, while the ministry’s control room is coordinating relief efforts round the clock.

Health Secretary Md Kamruzzaman Chowdhury said 95 snakebite patients had received treatment in flood-hit areas and all had recovered.

More than 21,000 vials of antivenom are available at district level, with another 25,000 expected within 15 days.

The government is also distributing water purification tablets and ensuring adequate supplies of ORS, intravenous saline and essential medicines to prevent waterborne diseases, officials said.