RGUHS constitutes 72 teams

Disaster management cell will co-ordinate relief works

Addressing a press meet here on Wednesday, he said the Disaster Management Cell set up by Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences has constituted 72 teams of medical professionals to tackle any outbreak of water-borne or any other diseases in the flood-ravaged areas of North Karnataka.

“The teams comprising physicians, paediatricians and other personnel, were already providing medical assistance to the flood-hit victims not only in the relief camps, but also in other affected areas. Around 37,000 people have already been screened by the team. The diagnosis have shown that there is no major outbreak of diseases. However, we can not rule out the outbreak of water borne diseases. But, we are geared up to tackle any eventuality. Along with the treatment our team is also providing moral support to the victims by building their confidence level. In case of  hospitalisation of the victims, then we have instructed all the medical college hospitals to treat them free of cost,” he informed.

VC said: “We will despatch the team as when the need arises. RGUHS has identified the affiliated colleges in the affected areas and designated 11 Medical College and other affiliated colleges as the nodal centres to co-ordinate the relief work. A total of 133 nodal centres have been set up in 10 districts affected by flood. The Disaster Management Cell is in constant touch with the DHO’s and District Surveillance Officers in the affected areas and has alo provided list of necessary medicines to the concerned department so that these are available in the health centres in the affected areas. There is no shortage of medicine in the affected areas. Some of the relief teams have been dispatched to the affected areas to Andra Pradesh as well,” he added.
The cell has drawn up a protocol for providing timely medical assistance.

Flood relief fund
Dr Shetty said RGUHS has contributed Rs 1 crore to the Disaster Relief Fund of the Karnataka. It has requested all the staff in the affiliated colleges to donate a day’s salary to the relief fund. Accordingly, several professional colleges of Dakshina Kannada donated a total sum of Rs 15 lakh on Wednesday.

Shortage of staff
To a query on acute shortage of nursing staff in Government hospitals, he said government should bring out a policy in which an undertaking from the nursing students should be taken that they will service in the government hospital at least for two years with a decent pay. With political will, the problem can be solved. In Maharashtra and Gujarath, the respective government’s have made serving in rural areas mandatory, he added.