Special disinfection drive in flood-hit areas

Bhubaneswar : The Odisha government has initiated a special disinfection drive in the
state, particularly in areas affected by recent floods and sporadic diarrhoea outbreaks.
The drive is a joint effort of the Health and Family Welfare (H&FW) and Panchayati Raj
and Drinking Water (PR&DW) departments. A high-level meeting chaired by Secretary H&FW Aswathy S. was held to discuss the action plan for the drive. Director of Public Health Dr. Nilakantha Mishra presented updates on the current water and vectorborne disease situation across affected areas. The meeting emphasised the importance of active
involvement of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) members, social activists, and village
communities in the drive. The disinfection drive will be undertaken on July 4 and July
11, focusing on the village and institution levels. During the campaign, drinking water sources will be super chlorinated, and health facilities, educational institutions, marketplaces, and public places will be properly cleaned and disinfected. Awareness campaigns will be conducted at the village and household levels through ASHA, ANM, and health workers. The government has also directed food safety officers to intensify inspections of bottling plants, eateries, and hotels, ensuring strict adherence to food
safety protocols. Chief District Medical Officers and District Public Health Officers have been asked to undertake extensive tours and ensure result-oriented activities at the field level. The government is also focusing on maintaining the required stock of anti-venoms
for snake bites, placing MBBS doctors in flood-affected areas, and intensifying laboratory surveillance. Senior officers and teams from the state level will visit affected areas for close monitoring and supervision of field-level activities. The efforts seem to be
paying off, as the diarrhoea situation has been brought under control, with only 190 active cases reported from five districts. The government is also keeping a strict vigil on dengue and malaria situations.