Punjab Flood Relief: AIIMS Doctors Conduct Door-to-Door Fever Survey, Focus on Preventing Diseases

In the aftermath of the devastating floods in Punjab, the state government has launched a large-scale relief campaign aimed at safeguarding public health. A special medical team from AIIMS, New Delhi, has been deployed to the flood-affected areas to conduct door-to-door health checkups and prevent the outbreak of waterborne and seasonal diseases.

The team is being led by AIIMS Director Professor M. Srinivas and Medical Superintendent Dr. Nirupam Madan.

Common Illnesses Detected

During the health checkups, doctors found that the most common problems among flood victims were:

• Fever and cold

• Throat infections

• Skin diseases

• Upper respiratory tract infections

AIIMS Assistant Professor Dr. Amarinder Singh noted that cases of acute gastroenteritis and dehydration, especially among children, were being treated regularly. Essential medicines, including antifungals, antibiotics, oral rehydration salts, and pain relievers, were distributed to affected families.

Scale of Relief Efforts

• Over 3,000 patients were examined across several districts, including Ajnala, Sidhe Wala Ramdas, Gurdaspur, and Ferozepur.

• Medical teams visited houses directly, ensuring care for elderly people, children, and those unable to reach relief camps.

• Camps were also set up in remote areas where medical aid had not reached earlier.

Undiagnosed Diabetes and Hypertension Cases

Surprisingly, doctors found a significant number of undiagnosed diabetes and high blood pressure cases during the survey. Many patients were unaware of their conditions until examined.

Future Measures: Telemedicine Helpline

Dr. Singh revealed that AIIMS is planning to launch a telemedicine helpline for flood-affected patients in Punjab and neighboring states. He also advised residents to drink only boiled water to avoid waterborne diseases.

With the joint efforts of the Punjab government and AIIMS doctors, authorities aim to minimize the spread of post-flood diseases and provide continued healthcare support to vulnerable communities.