Finance
Following the recent floods, the Odisha Health and Family Welfare Department released a thorough health alert, asking people in impacted areas to take rigorous precautions against water-borne infections, including diarrhea, as well as the increased risk of snakebites.
To avoid diarrhea, the department recommends that residents drink only water that has been boiled for half an hour and then cooled, or treat one liter of water with a single halogen tablet and consume it after half an hour.
People have been asked to fully wash their hands with soap before eating and after using the bathroom, to use toilets instead of open defecation, and to avoid eating food served in unsanitary conditions outside.
For people suffering from diarrhea, an ORS solution should be given repeatedly. The government has also advised households not to use tube wells or wells that have been inundated or contaminated by floodwater until they have been thoroughly cleansed, and to consult their nearest water supply engineer for disinfection of such sources.
The alert emphasizes the increased danger of snakebites in flood-affected areas and advises extra caution when moving or working in floodwater. Those sleeping on the floor at home should utilize mosquito nets, and those venturing outside at nite should exercise extreme caution and alertness.
Keeping both the interior and exterior of homes clean has also been emphasized. In snakebite instances, the department strongly advises against using traditional or local treatment methods and instead recommends that the patient be transferred to the nearest hospital as soon as possible.
Anti-snake venom injections are free of charge at government facilities, and officials warn that even a minor delay in obtaining medical attention might be lethal.
Furthermore, anyone who feels ill is urged to see an ASHA worker, health professional, or doctor very away.
The Health and Family Welfare Department has urged residents of flood-affected areas to rigorously adhere to these instructions in order to minimize illness epidemics and loss of life in the aftermath of the flood.
