HÀ NỘI — Residents must work closely with medical workers to prevent and control epidemics in areas where flood waters had been lingering in Chương Mỹ District for more than 10 days, said director of the Hà Nội Department of Health Nguyễn Khắc Hiền.

Located about 30km from downtown Hà Nội, Chương Mỹ, Quốc Oai and Thạch Thất were among the hardest hit by heavy downpours which began on July 21, and much of Chương Mỹ District was left under water.

Water levels in the Bùi River are slowly dropping, but more than 100 households in Nam Phương Tiến and Tân Tiến communes remain flooded, along with  Phú Cát, Liệp Tuyết, Phúc Lâm, Lê Thanh and Hương Sơn. The situation has improved in Quốc Oai and Mỹ Đức, but trash covers the sodden landscape.

Nguyễn Văn Mạnh, chairman of Tân Tiến Commune’s People’s Committee, said that the health sector was working with local authorities to ensure sanitation and prevent diseases.

However, due to the piles of rubbish, the committee had been forced to ask for support from Chương Mỹ District.

In Quốc Oai District, chairman of the Cấn Hữu Commune People’s Committee Vũ Văn Lợi said that the commune had called on all forces to clean up the environment.

Local authorities had chemically treated all households to prevent diseases, and residents had returned to farming, he said.

Director Hiền said that the department had asked the local health sector to work with the Hà Nội Ophthamology Hospital, the Hà Đông Ophthamology Hospital, the Hà Nội Hospital of Dermatology and Venereology and the Hà Nội Preventive Medicine Centre to strengthen health care for residents.

Free health examinations will also be provided.

Hà Nội has a variety of medicines on hand to treat diseases that often occur after floods, especially for eye, skin and venereal diseases.

Medical stations have assigned workers to be on duty day and night, while residents have been urged to keep the environment clean, clear bushes and ensure food hygiene and safety.

Radio stations are also broadcasting guidelines about drowning prevention, disease prevention and food safety.  

The Hà Nội Hospital of Dermatology and Venereology, the Hà Đông Eye Hospital and the Chương Mỹ District Hospital have prepared enough medical staff and medicines to give general health checks to 8,500 people in the seven villages most seriously hit by the flooding in Tân Tiến, Nam Phương Tiến and Hoàng Văn Thụ communes from August 6 to 22.

Deputy director of the Hà Nội Department of Health Hoàng Đức Hạnh said that so far no diseases had been reported in Chương Mỹ District. — VNS