Health workers’ leave cancelled in flood-hit districts

The government has cancelled the leave of health workers in flood-affected districts and taken extensive measures to ensure uninterrupted healthcare services for people hit by the ongoing floods, Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain said on Monday.

“Health workers in flood-hit areas have been kept on duty by cancelling their leave. Adequate supplies of medicines, oral saline, anti-snake venom and necessary healthcare personnel have been ensured so that no patient is deprived of treatment,” he said at a press conference held at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare at the Bangladesh Secretariat.

The minister said continuous heavy rainfall and flash floods caused by upstream hill runoff have inundated several districts, prompting the government to strengthen emergency healthcare preparations.

He said the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) is closely monitoring the situation and has already issued necessary instructions to field-level health authorities. Medical teams have been deployed while stocks of essential medicines, oral rehydration salts (ORS), water purification tablets and anti-snake venom have been secured.

“If required, additional medical teams will be sent from the central level,” Sakhawat said.
He said special healthcare services are currently being provided in 11 flood-affected districts – Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Bandarban, Rangamati, Khagrachhari, Feni, Noakhali, Lakshmipur, Chandpur, Cumilla and Brahmanbaria.

A senior physician has been assigned in each district to monitor overall health conditions, while the ministry’s control room is operating round the clock to collect updates and coordinate emergency responses.

The minister said the government is maintaining close communication with deputy commissioners, civil surgeons, hospitals and local administrations, with special attention given to pregnant women, children and residents of remote areas.

Highlighting the rising risk of snakebites during floods, he said sufficient anti-snake venom supplies have been sent to affected districts. He urged people not to rely on traditional healers and advised them to take snakebite victims directly to hospitals for proper treatment.

Health facilities have also been prepared to tackle possible outbreaks of diarrhoea, cholera and other waterborne diseases caused by contaminated floodwater, he said.

Health Secretary Md Kamruzzaman Chowdhury said 95 snakebite patients have so far received treatment in flood-affected districts and all have recovered.

He said more than 1,000 vials of anti-snake venom are currently available at the central level, while around 21,000 vials have been stocked at district health facilities. Another 25,000 vials are expected to arrive within the next 15 days.

Water purification tablets, ORS and essential medicines are also being distributed to prevent post-flood health risks, he added.

Director General of DGHS Professor Dr Prabhat Chandra Biswas said the National Health Call Centre (16263) and Shastho Batayon platform are collecting health information from flood-hit areas and providing medical advice.

He said the DGHS is also monitoring dengue and other infectious diseases amid the flood situation.
An emergency control room has been opened at DGHS to coordinate healthcare responses, which can be contacted at 01759114488.