As Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi battles flash floods, landslides, lightning, cloudbursts and heavy rains, a recent determined effort of a medical team to save elderly has caught the spotlight. Rains continue to wreak havoc across the state, making access to necessary medical care not only difficult but also inaccessible.
A medical team from the Community Health Centre in Thunag covered 14 km distance on foot, crossing the rugged terrain to treat 78-year-old ailing patient at Lajje Ram. The patient battling Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), age-associated prostate gland enlargement, needed life-saving care.
‘Lack of transport’
“Recently, his Foley catheter got blocked. Due to his extreme weakness and the complete lack of transport, a team of health workers led by Dr Abhishek from CHC Thunag hiked through the hilly route to Barad village,” HT quoted Mandi chief medical officer (CMO) Dr Deepali Sharma as saying. The doctors successfully replaced the patient’s catheter.
Deepali Sharma further noted that the health department teams have been providing door-to-door medical service across villages during this difficult time.
As per the report, the health department carried out health checkups of more than 18,000 individuals and delivered essential medicines to more than 5,000 people in need.
After rains caused widespread disruption, 24 medical teams were dispatched to the affected areas — 10 in Thunag and 10 teams in Janjehli area. Special focus is being given on treating children, the elderly, pregnant women and people suffering from serious diseases.
Ranis wreaks havoc across Himachal Pradesh: SDMA report
The State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) in its report dated July 10 revealed that over 91 people lost their lives in Himachal Pradesh since June 20 — 55 deaths were reported in rain-related incidents while 36 others attributed to road accidents. Meanwhile, 131 persons were reported missing persons and over ₹749.97 crore in estimated financial loss occurred to both public and private property.