Puri: Cyclonic storm Fani, that made a landfall on Odisha coast May 3, has damaged infrastructure of altogether 310 healthcare centres in Puri district.
According to sources, the summer storm has devastated Puri district headquarters hospital (DHH), Tuberculosis and Infectious Disease Hospital in the Holy City, 241 health sub-centres, 48 primary health centres (PHCs), four urban primary health centres and 16 community health centres (CHCs).
It is learnt that the CHCs at Puri Sadar, Krushnaprasad, Kanas, Gop, Satyabadi and Brahmagiri have sustained damages due to the storm.
In order to provide healthcare facilities to people, the state government has deployed around 49 mobile units across Puri district.
“Two mobile units have been sent to each of the 11 blocks in Puri district. Altogether 10 mobile units have been deployed in the Holy City. Some mobile units are also functioning under the CHCs,” said Puri Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) Ramachandra Rout.
According to Rout, autopsy of as many as 31 bodies of cyclone victims has been conducted at the DHH while doctors at Krushnaprasad hospital did post mortem on one body. Similarly, autopsy of five bodies have been carried out at Nimapara-Charichhak hospital.
“The state government has deputed 21 specialist doctors to Puri DHH to provide healthcare to people. Moreover, the DHH has 47 doctors. Our priority is to provide drinking water and essential drugs to the patients at the DHH,” Rout said.
The CDMO claimed that they had shifted 422 pregnant women to safety prior to the May 3 cyclone. According to him, as many as 961 patients have been treated at the outpatient department of the DHH since May 3. “The dialysis and MRI scan units at the DHH have been fully restored. We have not detected any dengue, malaria and jaundice cases at the DHH till now,” Rout said.
He claimed that they have tested at least 120 water samples from various places in the district. Besides, health officials have been checking food samples at three relief centres.
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