In Uttar Pradesh
Dr Parikh, AmeriCares India Managing Director with Dr. Podwal, Chief Medical Officer of Farrukhabad District, Uttar Pradesh and his medical team during a medical camp conducted following the floods. The team is examining chlorine tablets (for water purification) and other medicines provided by the Indian government that are commonly required in flood-affected areas.
In Farrukabad, a district in eastern Uttar Pradesh, 217 villages were submerged and 260,000 people displaced. Following a request for AmeriCares assistance from Health Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Dr. Purvish Parikh, Americares India Country Directory, visited the flood affected areas for a second time to evaluate the initial response and determine ongoing needs. In the early aftermath of the flooding, AmeriCares had committed to providing nutritional aid, children’s clothing and other supplies.
Dr Parikh, AmeriCares India Managing Director with Dr. Podwal, Chief Medical Officer of Farrukhabad District, Uttar Pradesh and his medical team during a medical camp conducted following the floods. The team is examining chlorine tablets (for water purification) and other medicines provided by the Indian government that are commonly required in flood affected areas.
In a meeting with the local medical association that included 35 doctors, the Health Minister and the medical team, Dr. Parikh reviewed the main illnesses they should be prepared for, addressed preventative measures and advised the group on what medicines will be needed to add to their stock. AmeriCares India has committed to coordinate a disaster preparedness workshop to help the medical community develop an effective response plan for future disasters in the region.
In Uttarakhand
Dr. Parikh travelled to Uttarakhand in mid- November and met with Dr Bhatt, Director General of Health Services, Dr Varma, Additional Director of Medical Services and Dr Rajendra Bhatt, Principal of the Training College of MHFW (all from Uttarakhand Department of Health). He reported that they were pleased to have AmeriCares India taking the initiative to do medical relief work in the region for the poor affected by the floods.
With the support of local community leaders and school authorities, Dr. Parikh along with 3 volunteers also conducted two successful medical camps outside Dehradun. In the first camp, 231 students of Regional Inter College, Sorda Saroli, were treated. In the second camp, 82 students of Government regional higher secondary school, Badasir received primary care.
Based on discussions with state’s health authorities and with the support of the Government Health Department, AmeriCares India is offering a free medical camp for flood and landslide affected area Manan Village of Almora District, Uttarakhand from 6th to 8th December. Discussions are also underway with various stakeholders and local leaders to conduct community disaster preparedness trainings.
In Bihar
AmeriCares India is sending a 40-foot container of Xango nutritional products to our local partner in Bihar the Temple Trust, to combat malnutrition due to the flood and rain.
In Leh
AmeriCares India continues its relief effort in Leh, which suffered from monsoon rains and significant damage to the health infrastructure. Relief efforts have been focused on the Government SNM Hospital.
The federal government is supporting the hospital with some funds, but there are many pieces of vital equipment that were destroyed in the floods that need to be replaced quickly. AmeriCares India is working to provide some of that equipment to SNM with the objective of getting Ladakh’s only referral hospital up and running again at full capacity prior to the onset of winter.
