Proactively clean the environment and prevent epidemics after floods

When the floodwaters receded, large amounts of mud and waste covered many residential areas and constructions, causing environmental pollution and increasing the risk of disease outbreaks. Faced with this situation, the Lao Cai health sector proactively implemented many environmental sanitation and disease prevention measures to protect people's health.

Yen Bai Ward is one of the localities most severely damaged by the circulation of storm No. 10 (Bualoi), with 19 main roads of the ward deeply flooded, 38 residential groups, over 5,000 households affected, of which more than 400 people were urgently evacuated to safe places. After more than a day of flooding, when the water receded, the amount of mud and waste left covered many residential areas, causing serious environmental pollution and potential risk of disease outbreaks.

Health workers guide people to clean water sources.

Faced with this situation, Lao Cai health sector has proactively mobilized forces from the provincial level to the grassroots level to coordinate with local authorities to carry out environmental sanitation work on a large scale. Dozens of tons of waste and mud have been collected and destroyed in accordance with regulations.

In residential areas, medical staff directly distributed Cloramin B and instructed people on how to mix and use it to disinfect domestic water sources as well as clean household items.

Mr. Nguyen Song Hao, Deputy Director of Lao Cai Provincial Department of Health, said: Immediately after the water receded, we directed the Provincial Center for Disease Control to coordinate with the Yen Bai Regional Medical Center and ward and commune health stations to urgently organize environmental disinfection and water treatment in residential areas, schools, and medical facilities.

In addition, the health sector also fully prepares chemicals, medicines, and medical supplies to be ready to respond to any disease outbreak after the flood.

Medical staff spray disinfectant at flooded households.

On Thanh Nien Street - one of the areas that was deeply flooded for a long time in Yen Bai Ward, many households quickly cleaned up and sanitized their houses to stabilize their lives. Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy in Hong Tan residential group shared: "The receding water left behind too much mud, moldy houses, and damaged furniture. My family was instructed by medical staff at home on how to use Cloramin B to disinfect wells and clean household items. Medical staff also distributed leaflets and instructed on steps to disinfect water and maintain personal hygiene. Thanks to that, our people feel more secure and are not too panicked by the risk of disease outbreaks."

Not only in residential areas, environmental sanitation work at schools is also being vigorously implemented to ensure the safety of students when returning to class after the flood. Ly Thuong Kiet High School is one of the heavily flooded areas, with many classrooms and campuses submerged in muddy water.

Disinfectant spraying at school.

Teacher Ma Dinh Khai - Principal of Ly Thuong Kiet High School said: "Immediately after the flood receded, all staff and teachers of the school immediately started cleaning up, collecting mud and garbage. We received active support from the ward government, functional forces and the health sector in spraying disinfectants throughout the campus, classrooms and restrooms. Thanks to close coordination, on the morning of October 3, the school was able to welcome students back to study in a safe and clean environment."

In addition to disinfection and environmental treatment activities, the Lao Cai health sector has paid special attention to propaganda to raise awareness of disease prevention among the people. The Provincial Center for Disease Control and regional health centers have organized many mobile communication sessions, distributed leaflets, and announced on loudspeakers about how to prevent common diseases after floods, such as: acute diarrhea, skin diseases, pink eye, dengue fever, seasonal flu, etc.

Medical staff were assigned to each household to instruct residents on how to wash their hands with soap, wear masks properly, treat domestic water safely, and not use moldy or spoiled food. Some high-risk residential areas were also assigned medical teams to monitor the epidemic situation and promptly detect unusual cases.

Disinfection spraying work is actively deployed.

Deputy Director of the Department of Health Nguyen Song Hao added: “In addition to environmental treatment, we also pay special attention to disease prevention communication so that people understand and proactively implement it, because good communication will contribute to preventing epidemics from the beginning.

In addition, medical facilities have arranged specialized and 24-hour emergency services; timely admission and emergency care for victims of natural disasters; ensuring no interruption in treatment, examination and treatment for people. At the same time, review and supplement the reserve of medicines, chemicals, supplies and essential medical equipment according to the "4 on-site" motto, ready means and human resources for emergency treatment and search and rescue work.

“In the coming time, the health sector will continue to maintain epidemiological surveillance in localities affected by floods, to prevent outbreaks in the community,” Mr. Nguyen Song Hao emphasized.

Up to now, although the environmental sanitation work has been basically completed at many hot spots, the Lao Cai Health Department still maintains a permanent force in key areas, ready to handle any incidents that arise. With the urgent participation, responsibility of the entire political system and proactive spirit of the people, Lao Cai province is gradually stabilizing life after the flood, controlling the environmental sanitation situation well, preventing widespread epidemics.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/chu-dong-ve-sinh-moi-truong-phong-chong-dich-benh-sau-lu-post883645.html