Floods and Landslides: Health Department Springs into Action with Emergency Response Team
Ministry of Public Health Activates EOC to Support Flood-Affected Areas
The Ministry of Public Health has opened its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to support areas affected by floods across the country. The EOC is accelerating the mobilization of SEhRT teams, health centers, and local agencies to manage sanitation and environmental health, reducing public health risks and promoting knowledge on how to use cardboard toilets and V-Clean sets during times of crisis.
Provinces Affected by Floods
According to Dr. Atthaphon Kaewsamrit, Deputy Director General of the Department of Health, there are currently 8 provinces affected by flash floods and landslides:
- Chiang Mai
- Chiang Rai
- Ayutthaya
- Saraburi
- Nakhon Nayok
- Phitsanulok
- Phichit
- Ang Thong
More than 19,578 families have been affected, with Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai provinces being critical disaster areas.
SEhRT Team Deployment
The Department of Health has assigned the SEhRT Health Center team to collaborate with provincial agencies to assess risks, investigate germ contamination in food and water, and manage sanitation, including toilets and sewerage, waste, and residential areas.
The team is also providing support with V-Clean sets, paper box toilets, sanitation tool kits, food and water contamination test kits, and free chlorine remaining in water test kits to reduce contamination by germs resulting from floods.
Reconstruction and Recovery
After the water subsides, the SEhRT team will support local agencies in the reconstruction process, detecting and inspecting damage to public utility systems, such as village water supply, community water supply, and citizen-run businesses.
The team will also accelerate the improvement of systems to return to normal, clean, disease-free, and safe conditions as quickly as possible.
Public Awareness and Education
The Department of Health emphasizes the importance of continuous communication to create knowledge for people through various media channels, especially on preventing flood-related diseases, such as athlete’s foot, fungal skin diseases, leptospirosis, and diseases caused by contamination of germs in food.
