Question : MEDICAL RELIEF TO VICTIMS OF NATURAL CALAMITY



(a) whether the Government is well equipped to extend medical relief to the victims of natural calamity;

(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(c) the details of medical relief extended after natural calamities during the last three years;

(d) whether the Government has received any assistance from WHO for the victims of natural calamity during the last three years;

(e) if so, the details thereof, year-wise; and

(f) the concrete steps taken by the Government to provide immediate medical relief to the victims of natural calamity?

Answer given by the minister


THE MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE (DR. ANBUMANI RAMADOSS)

(a)to (c) The primary responsibility for managing natural disasters is that of the State Government. Ministry of Home Affairs is the nodal ministry for management of natural disasters. Ministry of Health & Family Welfare is one of the supporting ministries.The Central Government supports the State in terms of human resource and material supplies on their request or the extant of the disaster is beyond the coping abilities of the State. Emergency medical relief were organized during major disasters like Floods in Assam and Bihar [2004] Tsunami [2004], Heavy Rains / floods in Maharashtra [2005], Avalanche and earthquake in Jammu and Kashmir [2005], Heavy rains/floods in Gujarat [2006], floods in Rajasthan [2006]. Emergency medical supplies made for these disasters amounted to Rs.3.72 crores during 2004, Rs.4.81 crores during 2005 and Rs.8.54 crores during 2006.

(d)&(e) World Health Organization extends technical assistance and logistic support to Member Countries during major disasters. In the aftermath of Tsunami in 2004, WHO provided surgical and emergency health kits, insecticide treated bed nets, chloroscopes used for water testing, bleaching powder, ORS etc. and technical support to strengthen surveillance activity.WHO provided testing kits for leptospirosis and chloroscopes for heavy rains/floods in Maharashtra and emergency health kits for Jammu and Kashmir Earthquake in 2005.

(f) Emergency medical preparedness and response activities include Emergency Support Functions, guidelines on investigation and control of outbreaks of waterborne diseases, mounting of disease surveillance activities for epidemic prone diseases and to contain if it has to happen, training activities on mass casualty management and taking part in damage assessment team of Ministry of Home Affairs to assess the health sector damage and recommending appropriate financial support to the States under CRF/NCCF norms.