Today's Flood Update: DGHS Issues Emergency Directives to Ensure Healthcare in Flood-Hit Areas

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has issued a set of emergency directives to strengthen healthcare services in flood-affected areas across the country.

The directives were sent on Saturday to divisional health directors, civil surgeons and upazila health officials through a letter signed by Abu Hossain Md Moinul Ahsan, director of the DGHS Hospital and Clinic Branch.

The decisions followed a virtual meeting chaired on Friday by DGHS Director General Prof Dr Pravath Chandra Biswas to review preparedness for the worsening flood situation.

The meeting adopted seven key measures aimed at ensuring uninterrupted medical services. These include appointing focal persons at upazila, district and divisional levels in all flood-affected areas to maintain round-the-clock coordination with the DGHS control room. Their contact details are to be shared with relevant agencies and stakeholders.

The directives also called for the formation of an adequate number of medical teams in all affected upazilas and districts to provide emergency healthcare services to flood victims.

Health officials have been instructed to regularly brief the media on flood response activities through press conferences or press releases. An emergency press conference has been scheduled for 12 July to highlight healthcare services being provided in flood-hit areas.

The DGHS further ordered authorities to maintain sufficient stocks of essential medicines, oral rehydration salts (ORS), intravenous saline and water purification tablets in all affected upazilas. Adequate supplies of anti-snake venom must also be ensured, with neighbouring health facilities instructed to provide support if required.

Special emphasis has been placed on protecting the health of pregnant women and children. The directives call for expectant mothers to be transferred to government hospitals whenever necessary, in coordination with the Family Planning Department.

To ensure uninterrupted healthcare services, authorities have also been instructed to keep doctors, nurses, midwives and other healthcare workers on duty in flood-affected areas. If necessary, leave for officials and employees may be cancelled to maintain emergency medical services.