Patna: With the Ganga, Kosi, Barandi and Kari Kosi rivers rising, the Katihar district administration and health department have started using boat ambulances to take healthcare services to people stranded in flood-affected areas.Around 8.80 lakh people in the district have been affected by the floods, making access to hospitals difficult for thousands of families. With roads and other routes submerged, doctors, ANMs and other health workers are travelling by boat to affected settlements with essential medicines. The teams are conducting preliminary examinations, assessing health complaints and providing medicines as required.According to official data, 59 gram panchayats covering 590 villages and four nagar panchayats covering 40 wards in Kursela, Barari, Amdabad, Manihari, Mansahi, Sameli and Pranpur blocks are currently flood-affected.ADM (disaster management) Firoz Akhter said two boat ambulances were operating in Barari block, where several flood-affected areas had been cut off from road connectivity. Two more were operational in Manihari and Amdabad.“Medical teams are using the boats to reach affected settlements and check on residents who are unable to travel to hospitals,” Akhter said.He said the boat ambulances were launched on Sept 7 and around 9,000 flood-affected people had received assistance through the initiative so far.Barari Referral Hospital medical officer in charge Mohd Musharrat Hussain said the rising Ganga had made it difficult for residents stranded in their homes to reach the hospital.“Those who are stranded in their homes and cannot reach the hospital are being reached by our teams through the boat ambulances. Health workers are visiting house to house and asking people whether they are facing any health problems,” he said.According to Hussain, fungal infections, fever and cough were among the common complaints reported by residents in the affected areas. Patients were being examined and medicines provided as required.ANM Kusum Kumari said the health department was taking services to patients unable to reach hospitals because of the floods.“Patients who are unable to reach the hospital are being reached by the health department itself. Necessary medicines are also being provided to pregnant women in the flood-affected areas,” she said.Meanwhile, 130 boats are operating for the movement of people and essential supplies, along with two motorboats in Barari circle. As many as 426 community kitchens are functional and have so far served meals to over 29 lakh flood-affected people.Eight veterinary camps have also been set up for flood-hit livestock — three in Barari at Mohanchaunpur, Uttari Bhandartal and Bishanpur; one in Kursela at Balthi Maheshpur; two in Manihari at Kaliganj Motipur Dhala and Mirzapur Railway Gate Durgasthan; one in Amdabad at Jalebi Tola Chowk Chama Bandh; and one in Mansahi at Chitaudia panchayat. The camps have treated 4,252 animals.
