Bhubaneswar: Proactive steps have been initiated to prevent any public health and nutrition related issues within Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) limit. A meeting was chaired by BMC Commissioner, Samarth Verma to take preventive measures with regards to spread of post-disaster infections and outbreaks as the city was devastated by very severe cyclonic storm FANI.
Briefing the participating staff from City Health Society and ICDS wing working within the jurisdiction of BMC, the Commissioner instructed all to start daily surveillance for incidence of diarrhoea, jaundice, fever, snake bite, ARI (acute respiratory infections) and skin diseases.
As citizen-based programme Mahila Arogya Samiti (MAS) meeting will be conducted in each ward to help orient the citizens adopting preventive steps. Distribution and use of halogen tablets, food and personal hygiene, availability of ORS and halogen tablets with ASHA and Anganwadi Workers need to be ensured, added the Commissioner.
Intensive IEC campaign on preventive steps and sufficient information to vulnerable groups like mothers and caregivers of children will be continued along with the MAS meetings. Random water tasting drive will be started to safe guard food hygiene in market places.
Children of three to six years age group enrolled in respective Anganwadis are being distributed biscuit packets daily by Anganwadi Workers as a supplementation initiative during the period. The coverage of children will be ensured by the CPDOs concerned.
A strategy has been made to visit vulnerable slum habitations and other areas randomly in order to take water sample based on past experiences. Along with these, awareness on use of bed net, chlorination in drinking water sources, fogging activities in vulnerable areas for mosquitoes will be initiated. This will help support the surveillance initiative to update hygiene information and to take preventive steps.
Other dignitaries and officers present in the meeting were ADM, Bhubaneswar, deputy commissioner special duty and City Programme Manager. Daily update of disease surveillance has been stressed by the authority.
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