Urgent measures needed to prevent disease outbreaks after storms and floods.

Join hands to support patients in flood-affected areas.

As soon as the floodwaters receded, a team of doctors and medical professionals, including leading experts from Viet Duc Hospital, arrived at Lao Cai Provincial General Hospital, Bao Yen District General Hospital, and Bao Thang District General Hospital – where many victims of Typhoon No. 3 were being treated, including those affected by the devastating flash flood in Lang Nu village.

A delegation from Viet Duc Hospital arrived to provide medical support to hospitals in Lao Cai.

At Lao Cai Provincial General Hospital, the delegation brought 100 units of blood donated by the doctors, nurses, and staff of Viet Duc Hospital, along with 300 million VND in emergency support for the hospital. Doctors directly examined patients, classified injuries, and shared professional experience to help patients overcome the critical stage.

At Bao Yen District General Hospital, where many survivors of the landslide in Lang Nu village are being treated, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Manh Khanh and other doctors held a consultation to develop the best treatment plan for the patients.

At Bao Thang District General Hospital, the medical team from Viet Duc Hospital also directly participated in consultations and examinations for patients.

Following the heavy rains and flooding from Typhoon No. 3, both district-level hospitals suffered significant damage to property, equipment, and medicines. To date, staff at both hospitals are still cleaning up mud and repairing damaged equipment.

In recent days, many medical staff and doctors from all over the country have traveled to the areas severely affected by Typhoon No. 3, working alongside their colleagues to mitigate the consequences of the floods. In addition to providing professional support, a large quantity of medicine has also been brought along to assist the people.

On the morning of September 15th, over 16,000 family medicine kits donated by hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City were transported by air and promptly delivered to the Departments of Health in the provinces of Lao Cai, Lang Son, Phu Tho, Cao Bang , Yen Bai, Thai Nguyen, Bac Kan, and Thai Binh. It is expected that Ho Chi Minh City will package 30,000 family medicine kits to support people in flood-affected areas.

For each province affected by Typhoon No. 3, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health assigned 4-5 specialized and general hospitals to work together to provide support.

Increased risk of disease outbreaks.

According to Mr. Nguyen Luong Tam, Deputy Director of the Department of Preventive Medicine (Ministry of Health), after storms and floods, countless microorganisms, dust, garbage, waste, etc., are carried by the water currents to many places, causing environmental pollution. In addition, people lack clean water for daily use and consume unsafe food sources, increasing the risk of disease outbreaks.

"Common diseases during the rainy season include dengue fever, malaria, influenza, skin diseases, conjunctivitis, and gastrointestinal diseases such as cholera, dysentery, typhoid, and diarrhea," Mr. Tam said.

According to Dr. Nguyen Huy Hoang, from the Vietnam-Russia Hyperbaric Oxygen Center (Ministry of Defense), Typhoon No. 3 (Yagi) has passed, but the risk of disease outbreaks remains due to water pollution and insufficient clean water; many people are stressed, tired, have irregular eating and sleeping habits, and have reduced immunity.

To prevent and control disease outbreaks after storms and floods, Dr. Huy Hoang advises people to clean their houses thoroughly, then prepare clean water sources, and clean water tanks and wells according to the guidelines of the Ministry of Health.

In addition, it is necessary to prevent gastrointestinal disorders by eating cooked food and drinking boiled water; washing hands with soap before preparing food, after using the toilet or coming into contact with dirty water.

Many disease prevention measures

According to Mr. Do Xuan Tuyen, Deputy Minister of Health, the Ministry of Health will continue to implement professional support activities for localities in areas affected by storms and floods, such as organizing medical examinations and emergency care for victims; restoring the operation of hospitals, medical facilities, and health stations in flood-affected, remote, and isolated areas.

At the same time, focus on classifying victims to prioritize emergency response, and triage patients at risk of respiratory and gastrointestinal infections to prevent the spread of disease.

Regarding disease prevention and control, the Ministry of Health continues to instruct localities to organize the spraying of insecticides to kill disease-carrying insects in flooded areas after the water recedes; and to develop plans for disease prevention and control after floods.

The Ministry of Health continues to guide localities in monitoring food poisoning and foodborne illnesses in flood-affected areas, and controlling the quality and safety of food and drinking water provided by organizations and individuals to flood victims.

"With the potential for disease outbreaks after the storms and floods, the Ministry of Health has instructed localities and preventive health forces to distribute essential medicines such as eye drops to prevent conjunctivitis, diarrhea medication, disinfectants, bandages, fever reducers, etc.," Mr. Tuyen said.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/gap-rut-phong-dich-benh-sau-bao-lu-192240917004117642.htm