Medical relief post urban floods in a South Indian City-lessons learnt in disaster response and planning Jain Timsi1, Mohan Yogesh2,*, Dutta Ruma2, Parasuraman Gomathy2, Dev Sathish3, Prashanth R3, Raja J Dinesh4 1Professor Department of Community Medicine; Saveetha Medical College 2Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine; Saveetha Medical College 3Postgraduate, Department of Community Medicine; Saveetha Medical College 4Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine; Saveetha Medical College *Corresponding Author: Yogesh Mohan Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Saveetha Medical College Phone: 9551280101 Email: communitymedicine.smc@saveetha.com
Online published on 25 September, 2018. Abstract Background In December 2015 Chennai, experienced record breaking maximum rainfall of the whole century and was drowned with heavy floods. Medical relief was highly skewed, often a knee jerk reaction to a media report and the directives of the government. Method Forty-three camps were organized and conducted by Saveetha Medical College and Hospital post floods. Data regarding age and sex and diagnosis was analyzed using proportions. After the camps a focus group discussion was organized among faculty of various departments, staff and other paramedics who were involved in organizing and conducting the flood relief camps. Discussion was recorded and data was analyzed using qualitative methods. Result A total of 7845 people were screened and treated at these camps. Fever was the most common complaint followed by Respiratory tract infection. Critical review of medical relief camps via focused group discussion brought out many points like Setting up of Disaster Relief Coordinating Cell, Lack of proper infrastructure for camps, Duplication of work. Conclusion Health teams should be trained to manage the situations during disasters. Relief Coordination Center at the national level can be made to co-ordinate various disaster relief activities. Top Keywords Floods, Disaster, Medical Relief Camps, Morbidity, Coordinating Cell. Top |