Urgent disease prevention after storm and flood

Join hands to support patients in flood-hit areas

The flood has just receded, a team of doctors and medical staff including leading experts from Viet Duc Hospital have arrived at the Provincial General Hospital. Lao Cai, Bao Yen District General Hospital, Bao Thang District General Hospital - where many victims of storm No. 3 are being treated, including the horrific flash flood in Lang Nu village.

Viet Duc Hospital delegation came to provide medical support to hospitals in Lao Cai.

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

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

At Bao Thang District General Hospital, the medical team of Viet Duc Hospital also directly participated in consultation and examination for patients.

In the floods following storm No. 3, both district hospitals suffered heavy damage to property, equipment, machinery, and medicine. 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 come to the areas that suffered great damage caused by storm No. 3, accompanying their colleagues to overcome the consequences of the floods. In addition to professional support, a large amount of medicine has also been brought to support the people.

On the morning of September 15, more than 9 thousand family medicine bags donated by hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City were transported by air and promptly delivered to the Department of Health of the provinces: Lao Cai, Lang Son, Phu Tho, Cao Bang, Yen Bai, Thai Nguyen, Bac Kan , and Thai BinhIt is expected that Ho Chi Minh City will package 30.000 family medicine bags to support people in flood-affected areas.

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

Increased risk of disease

According to Mr. Nguyen Luong Tam, Deputy Director of the Department of Preventive Medicine (Minister of Health), after storms and floods, countless microorganisms, dust, garbage, waste, etc. flow into many places with the water, causing environmental pollution. At the same time, people lack clean water for daily use and use unsafe food sources, increasing the risk of disease.

“Common diseases during the rainy season include: dengue fever, malaria, flu, dermatological diseases, pink eye, digestive diseases such as cholera, dysentery, typhoid, diarrhea…”, Mr. Tam said.

According to Dr. Nguyen Huy Hoang, Vietnam - Russia Hyperbaric Oxygen Center (Ministry of National Defense), storm No. 3 (Yagi) has passed but the risk of disease is still present, due to polluted water and lack of clean water; many people are stressed, tired, have irregular eating and sleeping habits, and reduced resistance.

To prevent and fight epidemics after storms and floods, Dr. Huy Hoang recommends that people clean their houses, prepare clean water sources, and wash water tanks and wells according to the instructions of the Ministry of Health.

Along with that, it is necessary to prevent diseases related to the digestive tract 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 measures to prevent epidemics

Mr. Do Xuan Tuyen, Deputy Minister of Health, said that the Ministry of Health will continue to deploy professional support activities for localities in areas affected by storms and floods, such as organizing medical examination and treatment, emergency care for victims; restoring the operations of hospitals, medical facilities, and medical stations in flood-affected, remote and isolated areas.

At the same time, focus on classifying victims to prioritize emergency care in emergency situations, and classify patients at risk of respiratory and digestive infections to avoid disease transmission.

Regarding disease prevention and control, the Ministry of Health continues to remind localities to organize the spraying of chemicals to kill disease-causing insects in flooded areas after the water recedes; and develop plans to prevent epidemics after floods.

The Ministry of Health continues to guide localities to monitor food poisoning and foodborne diseases in flood-affected areas, and control the quality and safety of food and drinking water provided by organizations and individuals to support people in flood-affected areas.

“With diseases that may break out after storms and floods, the Ministry of Health has instructed localities and preventive medical forces to distribute essential medicines such as eye drops to prevent pink eye, diarrhea medicine, antiseptics, bandages, fever reducers…”, Mr. Tuyen said.