The Health Department will open 38 additional primary health centres (PHCs) in the flood-hit areas of the district.
Deputy District Medical Officer Jamuna Varghese said that the PHCs with outpatient facility would start functioning from Monday.
“Doctors and nurses have been appointed. The temporary PHCs will function for a period of one month,” Ms. Varghese said.
The additional PHCs will be set up in the panchayats of Ambalappuzha South and Ambalappuzha North, Chambakulam, Chennam Pallippuram, Cheriyanad, Cheruthana, Kainakary, Karuvatta, Kavalam, Mannancherry, Mararikulam, Muhamma, Muttar, Mulakkuzha, Nedumudy, Neelamperoor, Pallipad, Pandanad, Pulinkunnu, Puliyoor, Punnapara North and Punnapra South, Purakkad, Ramankary, Thakazhi, Thalavady, Thanneermukkom, Thiruvanvandoor, Thrikunnapuzha, Veeyapuram, Veliyanad and Venmony. The Army will set up a temporary hospital at the Kuttanad Vikasana Samithi office at Mankombu.
Besides, the Air Force hospital functioning in Alappuzha town will be shifted to Kuttanad, officials said.
Earlier, the floods had caused extensive damage to several primary health centres, and sub-centres in the region. Health centres at Chempumpuram, Thalavady, Edathua, Thakazhi, Kuppapuram, Chambakulam, Veliyanad, Muttar, Neelamperoor, Ramankary, Kavalam, Kadambur, Eramallikkara, Ala, Kainakary, Cheruthana, Haripad, Ambalapuzha North, Pandanad and Mulakuzha have become dysfunctional.
Meanwhile, the Health Department has intensified measures to tackle disease outbreaks in the flood-hit areas.
People returning to their homes in Kuttanad have been provided preventive medicines for leptospirosis. At least 149 diarrhoea cases were reported from relief camps in the district.
Besides, 16 cases of chickenpox were reported.
Officials said that three deaths and five suspected cases of leptospirosis had been reported in the district during this period.
No need for panic
“There is no need for panic. We have taken all preventive measures. More medical camps will be organised in the flood-hit areas of Kuttanad,” said an official.
