Natural disasters and calamities inflicted by nature cannot be avoided but have to be endured with great patience and immense courage. In such miserable circumstances the first effective step that should be taken would be to mobilise all available resources for immediate and quick response with an emphasis on provision of food, shelter and first aid. Rehabilitation stands second in number in the phases of repair and recovery from losses.
After floods, infectious diseases of viral nature affect the flood hit areas as epidemics. In 2011, we lost 464 precious lives of non-vaccinated children, due to measles in the localities hit by floods in Sindh. Now, the health authority’s first priority and focal point must be to start vaccination against possible viral epidemic in all the flood affected places as soon as possible.
DR. MUKHTAR ALI,
Kurram Agency, August 18.