A coordination meeting on possibility of the cyclonic storm in the Bay of Bengal was held with Department Heads of Public Health and Medical Services in regions and states and medical superintendents of hospitals on 7 May. At the meeting, Union Minister Dr. Thet Khaing Win said that the State Administration Council is putting an emphasis to reduce loss of the people during disasters. He talked the following points in the meetings held on 27 April and 5 May;
- As per the procedures of the work committee, preparedness, emergency response, and rehabilitation must be implemented step by step at the region/state level, district level, township level and village level. Region and State Public Health and Medical Services Departments must carry out close field supervision.
- People need to collect required purified drinking water in advance in order to prevent the occurrence of water-borne diseases, including diarrheal disease in the aftermath of natural disaster. Concerned departments must distribute water purifier packets and tablets in advance to disaster-prone areas and carry out health education activities.
- Necessary medicines and equipment, Disaster Medical Kits, Family Kits, Clean Delivery Kits and Dignity Kits, that might be required at the possible disaster-affected areas, must be distributed to rural health branches in advance.
- In hospitals, plans must be implemented to ensure that treatment operations, including emergency surgery and childbirth, should not be delayed or failed, and the necessary emergency medical teams must be formed and prepared in advance.
- Region/State public health and treatment centers must also cooperate with Tatmadaw medical units. Public Health Emergency Operations Centres have been activated at the Ministry as well as in the regions, so they have to communicate with each other in a timely manner.
After that, concerned relevant departmental officials discussed in detail on specific works, preparedness status of the hospitals in regions and states, situations in which emergency plans have been schemed, conditions under which public health emergency control centers are open, requirement and storage of emergency drugs and medical supplies. Then the Union Minister made a closing remark, it is reported.
Source: Global New Light of Myanmar Newspaper (8-5-2023)
- At the coordination meeting on possibility of the cyclonic storm in the Bay of Bengal was held with Department Heads of Public Health and Medical Services in regions and states and medical superintendents of hospitals, Union Minister Dr. Thet Khaing Win said that preparedness, emergency response, and rehabilitation must be implemented step by step as per the procedures of the work committee.