Chennai: On the directions issued by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, Tamilnadu Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr C Vijayabaskar, has taken several preventive measures and steps to avoid disease breakout in coastal regions like Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, Pudukottai and Ramanathapuram, hit by Cyclone Gaja.
To give healthcare services to the affected people, emergency care units and maternity care facilities in government hospitals have been powered by generators. Further, the fallen trees have been cleared from in and around hospitals.
Also, 1,767 medical camps have been conducted and over 900 doctors and nurses are on duty in the six affected districts and more than one lakh patients have been given medical assistance, said a press release from the Department of Health and Family Welfare.
The release said two additional assistant directors have been appointed to assist the existing additional assistant directors in the Health Department in the affected areas to scale up the relief efforts.
In addition, to prevent outbreaks, nilavembu concoction has been distributed to 3,40,000 people.
“To curb the mosquito population, the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine is actively fogging places where the insect can proliferate. Chlorinated water is being distributed for consumption and 40,000 litres of liquid chlorine has been distributed,” added the release.