Kathmandu:The Health Emergency and Disaster Management Unit has called on the health sector to enhance preparedness and response activities by adopting a state of high alertness. This directive follows a forecast of moderate to heavy rainfall accompanied by lightning and storms across various parts of the country for three days starting October 29.
According to National News Agency RSS, the Unit issued a circular to the Provincial Health Emergency Operation Centres in all seven provinces, requesting heightened readiness. The instruction to strengthen the health sector’s preparedness came after warnings from the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, urging vigilance due to the potential risks of landslides, floods, and inundation resulting from the forecasted heavy rainfall.
The circular, signed by Unit Chief Dr. Hemant Chandra Ojha, emphasized the assignment of an emergency focal person to maintain round-the-clock contact, with their details provided to the Unit and made public. It also advised keeping an emergency medical team with necessary health resources on standby and updating the availability of human resources, medicines, health instruments, ambulances, and other resources through coordination with health sector partner agencies.
Provincial health emergency operation centres have been instructed to ensure the swift and effective mobilization of ambulance services through continuous coordination with the provincial ambulance dispatch centre, aiming to provide timely health services to injured and affected citizens during disasters. Additionally, the centres in all provinces have been urged to submit daily reports of incidents and health sector-related situations through ‘zero reporting’ or ‘incident reporting.’
The Unit also stressed the importance of preventing disruptions in the health sector, ensuring the availability of required human resources and health instruments, and mobilizing immediate response efforts in affected areas during potential disasters.