DGHS rolls out 7 flood directives

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has issued a set of emergency directives to strengthen healthcare services in flood-affected areas, ordering field-level health authorities to ensure uninterrupted medical care and enhance emergency preparedness across the country.

The directives were sent on Saturday to all 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 measures were adopted following a virtual meeting on July 10 chaired by DGHS Director General Professor Dr Pravath Chandra Biswas. Under the seven-point emergency plan, DGHS instructed authorities to form the required number of medical teams in all flood-affected districts and upazilas to provide immediate healthcare services to affected communities.

Health officials were also directed to appoint focal persons at divisional, district and upazila levels to maintain round-the-clock coordination with the DGHS control room.

Their contact numbers must be shared with all relevant agencies and stakeholders to facilitate rapid communication during emergencies.

To ensure uninterrupted healthcare services, DGHS said doctors, nurses, midwives and other healthcare workers must remain available at health facilities in affected areas.

If necessary, leave for officials and employees may be cancelled. The health authorities also ordered adequate stocks of essential medicines, oral rehydration salts (ORS), intravenous saline and water purification tablets to be maintained at all flood-affected upazilas.

Hospitals have additionally been instructed to keep sufficient supplies of anti-snake venom to treat snakebite victims, with neighbouring healthcare institutions asked to coordinate supplies if shortages arise.

The directives placed special emphasis on protecting the health of pregnant women and children. Authorities were instructed to arrange hospital transfers for expectant mothers whenever required, in coordination with the Family Planning Department.

DGHS also directed local health authorities to regularly brief the media on flood response activities through press conferences and press releases.

An emergency press conference has been scheduled for July 12 to update the public on healthcare services being provided in flood-affected areas.

The emergency measures are aimed at ensuring uninterrupted medical services and strengthening the country’s health response as flooding continues to affect several regions.