DISASTER MANAGEMENT & MITIGATION UNIT EMMANUEL HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION Flood Relief 2012

Medical Relief in Sootea Block,

Background: With the monsoon not even reaching many parts of , Assam reeling under a major flood with death toll rising above 91 in 22 districts. About 20 lakhs people were affected and displaced due to incessant rainfall with the rise of water level of River Brahmaputra and its tributaries.

In Sonitpur, the flood water entered in the area on 26th June night and increases the water level by 28th June, which submerged most of the villages under Sootea block since then. The flood water affected about 58 villages stayed till 30th June before receding gradually. The main reasons for floods in the district is the breaching of 50 mts long Biswanathghath-Panpur dyke.

Assessments: EHA assessment team visited three affected villages namely Panpur Ghat- 1200 household comprising of Panpor, Panpur Hokoma, Singali and Mora; Gosai Chapori-I & II– about 300 household and Paspatipal- 80 household. Team also visited relief camps in Sootea. Some of the families are taking shelter in the elevated place in their village by setting up temporary shelter by themselves. Villagers confirmed death of 17 people from Gosai Chapori surrounding area and the villages are still under the water. The team also saw carcass floating on the river and in the flood water elsewhere. Villagers shared that initial relief materials was distributed to the families staying in the villages. The relief materials includes: Rice, Dal, Salt, Chura, Water bottle, Biscuit, Turmeric powder, Potato, Nutrela, Horlicks, Dettol Soap and some tarpaulin sheets. The relief materials were initially distributed

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The team also met Govt. Medical surveillance team in the villages and also the team based in the Relief Camp. Till now there is no major health issue reported. The common cases are fever, backache, cough and few dysentery, but the medical team expressed concerns about the possibility of outbreak of water borne diseases due to possible water contamination.

According to media report, people in the affected areas have reported this as the worst flood in Assam in more than a decade while major political parties calling this as a national calamity. The visit of the Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh along with UPA Chairman Mrs. Sonia Gandhi led to release of Rs.500 crores relief fund.

Intervention & Our Focus Area: Sootea (Chutia) Block. Naduar Revenue Circle. District Sonitpur. State Assam. Focused Area: Naduar Revenue Circle. Estimated Affected Population in Naduar : 127, 000. No. of villages to be covered by EHA's Emergency Medical Response : 20.

EHA's Emergency Response diary: Date Activities Area 28th June 2012 Participated in Joint Assessment of Assam Inter Agency Karmipathar, Gerjai, Balukaguri, Group in 6 villages in Dhemaji. Team consist of EHA, Tapitamguri, Bahirtapit & Namdang. RVC, CRS & IGSSS. 30th June – 2nd July EHA conducted Rapid Spots Assessment in Barpeta. Guma Fulbari Block. Villages: Oumura, 2012 Dokreswar, Pazarabhanga, Borsuha, Fulbari, Shilla & Guma. 3rd & 5th July 2012 Initial Needs Assessments by EHA team in Sonitpur Sootea Block. Villages: Panpur District. Consulted with District Project Officer, Circle Puranibheti, Singlimora, Gosaichapori- Officer & Addl Dy Commissioner. II, Bokabil, Gosaichapori-I, Gorhpal-I & II, Kasamari & 3 Relief Camps in Sootea Block. Gohpur Revenue Circle. Village Gohpur. 6th & 7th July 2012 Medical camp and needs assessment conducted in Sootea Gorhpal-I, Pahuchua & Charengia Block. villages. Medicines dispensed with 190 patients.

EHA team represented by Dr. George Koshy, Managing Director of BCHospital, Tezpur, Dr. Pratibha Milton, CH Director, BCH, Mr. Cornelius Ngade, Emergency Relief Officer and Mr. RK Shem, Project Manager, DMMU, Delhi had meeting with the Deputy Commissioner of Sonitpur, Comdt. & Dy Comdt. NDRF & Comdt. ITBP.

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8th July 2012 Analyzing assessment reports and developing Initial Tezpur. Medical Action Plan following a 'go ahead' from Dy Commissioner. Main objective of the Medical camp is to alleviate suffering of flood victims of Sootea block, Sonitpur district by preventing outbreak of epidemic.

Arrival of Dr. Pretesh Kiran, Public Health Expert from St. Johns Hospital, Bangalore along with his team: and Dr. Nandish & Dr. Murtuza. 9th to 12th July 2012 Meeting with Additional Deputy Commissioner, Sonitpur Tezpur ADC Office. @ Tezpur for supply of medicines for the medical camps.

EHA medical team visited the following villages where no other NGOs reached. 574 patients seen and medicines Sootea Block: Panpur Puranibheti, dispensed with. Gosaichapori-I, Nizbasti, Gorhpal-I, Health teaching was carried on along side the medical Tewari Pal. camps.

EHA ASSAM FLOODS 2012: Medical Camp update (12.7.12) Name of the village Morbidity details (villages initially Date of Total Sl identified only) Medical Camp Patients RI MSP Pain Abdomen Skin Condition Gastritis Fever 1 Gorhpal-I 6. Jul. 2012 49 Not observed 2 Pahuchua 7. Jul. 2012 88 Not observed 3 Charengia 7. Jul. 2012 53 Not observed 4 Panpur Puranibheti 9. Jul. 2012 130 20 33 20 16 11 13 5 Gosaichapori-I 10. Jul. 2012 126 24 29 11 9 11 8 6 Niz Basti 10. Jul. 2012 138 32 36 20 34 16 22 7 Gorhpal-I 11. Jul. 2012 83 20 18 11 13 0 10 8 Tewaripal 12. Jul. 2012 97 17 24 14 8 14 21 9 Gosaichapori-II 10 Panpur Hokoma 11 Niz Gorpa 12 Majulihati 13 Kasamari 14 Tinali 15 Pataki 16 Dolapani 17 Sanimara 18 Boharabheti 19 Kusumtola-I 20 Kusumtola-II 764 113 140 76 80 52 74

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Map showing villages identified for medical camps and areas covered as of 12th July 2012:

Medical Team & the observations: 1. Dr. Pretesh Kiran. Public Health Expert. St. Johns Medical College, Bangalore. 2. Dr. Nandish. Public Health. St. Johns Medical College, Bangalore. 3. Dr. Murtuza. Emergency Medicine. St. Johns Medical College, Bangalore. 4. Mr. Yespal Joel. BC Hospital, Tezpur. 5. Mr. John Denis. BC Hospital, Tezpur. 6. Mr. Amrit. BC Hospital, Tezpur. 7. Mr. Rajesh Naik. BC Hospital, Tezpur. 8. Ms. Susan Lagun. BC Hospital, Tezpur. 9. Ms. Preethi Banjamin. BC Hospital, Tezpur. 10. Mr. Suresh Samal. BC Hospital, Tezpur. 11. Ms. Catherine. BC Hospital, Tezpur. 12. Ms. Fairy. BC Hospital, Tezpur. 13. Ms. Hanna. BC Hospital, Tezpur. 14. Mr. Milton. BC Hospital, Tezpur. 15. Mr. Anku. BC Hospital, Tezpur.

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16. Mr. Cornelius Ngade. 17. Mr. Shem Raomai.

After the floods in several parts of Assam on 26th June, 2012 and being submerged in water for 5 days subsequently, EHA in association with Baptist Hospital, Tezpur & St. John’s Medical College, Bangalore conducted health camps in the following villages affected by flood to cater to the health care needs. This was after the team from Baptist Hospital had conducted an initial assessment of the villages severely affected. The following table summarizes the details of the morbidity seen in the health camps conducted from 9th July 2012 to 12th July 2012 -

Sl. Date: Village Fever Acute Skin Upper Lower Others Total no 2012 gastro- infectio respiratory respiratory no. of enteritis ns infections infections cases 1 09\07 Panpur – 13 9 16 20 1 116 130 Purani beti (10%) (7%) (12%) (15%) (1% ) (89%) 2 10\07 Ghosa- 8 7 9 20 4 91 126 chapori no.1 (6%) (6%) (7%) (16%) (3%) (72%) 3 10\07 Nezbasti 22 7 34 32 1 133 138 (16%) (5%) (25%) (23%) (1%) (58%) 4 11\07 Ghorpal-I 10 11 13 18 2 62 84 (12%) (13%) (15%) (21%) (2%) (74%) 5 12\07 Tewaripal 21 10 8 17 0 74 97 (22%) (10%) (8%) (18%) (76%)

NOTE:

1. The percentages are out of the total number of persons seen at the respective health camp. The totals may exceed 100% as a person may present with more than one complaint. 2. The infections which are to be monitored following a disaster like flood are mentioned separately and the rest clubbed as others. 3. Increasing number of cases of fever may suggest possible outbreak of malaria/other endemic fevers. 4. Increasing number of cases of acute gastroenteritis (loose stools/dysentery) suggests either water or food borne outbreak of gastroenteritis. 5. Increasing number of cases of skin infections/Upper respiratory infections (cold, cough, sore throat) suggests poor hygiene and possible overcrowding especially in temporary relief camps. 6. . Increasing number of cases of lower respiratory infections (fast breathing, cough with sputum), especially in children, is a possible indicator of poor health service coverage.

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Core Relief Team based @ Baptist Christian Hospital, Tezpur: 1. Dr. Koshy George. Managing Director. 2. Dr. Pratibha Milton. Community Health Director. 3. Mr. J. Solanki. Hospital Administrator. 4. Mr. Shem Raomai. Project Manager. Disaster Management & Mitigation Unit. 5. Mr. P.K. Nanda. Local leader. 6. Mr. Cornelius Ngade. Emergency Relief Officer. Disaster Management & Mitigation Unit.

Observed by,

Peniel Malakar. Disaster Management & Mitigation Unit. Emmanuel Hospital Association. New Delhi.

12Th July 2012

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