Banking News – The Ministry of Health and Food Safety has directed the health sector to remain on high alert and in a state of preparedness, stating that potential heavy to very heavy rainfall could create disaster situations including floods, landslides, and inundation. According to the notice issued by the Meteorological Forecasting Division and directives received from the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, the ministry has requested provincial Ministries of Health and Social Development, the Department of Health Services, health science academies, and federal hospitals to make necessary arrangements for potential risk reduction and effective response, keeping in mind heavy to very heavy rainfall that may occur in various parts of the country from the 8th to the 11th.

The ministry has directed health workers working in health institutions to remain reachable as needed even on public holidays and to make necessary preparations to be mobilized immediately if a disaster situation arises. Provincial health directorates, health offices, and other relevant agencies have been instructed to immediately establish coordination and communication with local levels and remain prepared for health services and disaster response. Additionally, provincial health emergency operation centers have been directed to operate 24 hours a day to continuously collect information, coordinate, and manage response to potential disasters.

The Department of Health Services has been instructed to submit a plan related to the preparedness status of health institutions and emergency response, along with the management of necessary manpower, medicines, and health materials for the continuous operation of emergency and regular health services, to the ministry by Ashoj 8. The department has also been directed to maintain adequate stock of necessary medicines and health materials, anti-snake venom, drinking water, and other essential materials in potentially at-risk districts, and to keep rapid response teams on standby.

Similarly, arrangements have been instructed to request pregnant women near their expected delivery date and patients with chronic illnesses to stay near health institutions or in safe locations as needed and to keep an adequate amount of regularly consumed medicines with them, keeping in mind the possibility of health service access being affected by disasters. The Ministry has stated that health emergency operation centers have been directed to facilitate arrangements for treatment by contacting the ambulance service at 102 if immediate health services are required due to an emergency health problem or disaster situation.