Months after massive flooding devastated the Indian state of Uttarakhand, we continue to help survivors with medical camps and relief supplies. Since the floods struck in June, 2013, our team has held 52 medical camps in Uttarakhand treating more than 5,000 patients.
Immediate Response
When the floods struck in June, AmeriCares India team was one of the first healthcare responders in the disaster zone:
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From June 28 – July 4, our medical teams provided free care to more than 600 people in 38 villages. In addition to providing direct care and distributing medicine to partner health organizations, the AmeriCares team distributed water purification tablets to give survivors access to uncontaminated water.
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The camps were supported with medicines from three emergency aid shipments, including ophthalmic solutions, multivitamins, and medicines to treat pain, infection, diabetes, inflammation.
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During the week of August 12 – 17, AmeriCares India doctors teamed with volunteer doctors to conduct 14 medical camps, helping more than 1,000 patients, and distribute maternal, child, and family health kits and other relief supplies.
“Many of the patients seen by our emergency medical teams had flood-related injuries and illnesses, as well as chronic conditions that they could not get help for, because roads were impassable due to landslides, debris, and washouts,” said Garrett Ingoglia, vice-president of emergency response at AmeriCares India.
Our teams saw first-hand the need to focus on child and maternal health. To address this need we are distributing thousands of mother care and child care kits to survivors in 40 villages. The kits include vitamin and protein supplements to address the nutritional needs of expectant mothers and young children, along with other crucial supplies, educational material and dosage instructions. To protect against the diseases such as malaria and the cold winter ahead, 2,000 family care kits containing blankets, mosquito nets, mosquito coils, a 3-month supply of water purification tablets and other relief supplies are being distributed.
A happy family with their child care kit.
Working with our partner, the Himalayan Health Institute Trust, we will provide primary care and maternal and child care in Uttarakhand through November. The team is also exploring other long-term interventions, including mental health support and disaster preparedness training.
The disaster struck Uttarakhand in June, after heavy monsoon rains gave rise to catastrophic flooding, inundating 12 districts that are home to more than 1.6 million people. The floods caused landslides destroyed homes, roads, bridges and crops. The flooding left many villages cut off from aid and health services leaving survivors suffering from injuries, infections, and diarrhea, and at risk from a variety of diseases including typhoid fever, cholera, leptospirosis and malaria.
Meanwhile our team continues respond to meet the needs of survivors of Cyclone Phailin, which struck on October 12, 2013.
To date, AmeriCares India has delivered more than $50 million worth of critical medicines and supplies in India —a figure that continues to grow significantly through the AmeriCares India office in Mumbai. In 2011 and 2012, AmeriCares India responded with aid to help survivors of the Orissa and Assam floods.