WHO assists Assam government in flood response

5 July 2022: Nearly 26 out of the 33 administrative districts in the state of Assam including the state capital Guwahati, have been inundated due to excessive rainfall and floods

According to a report by the Assam State Disaster Management Authority, nearly 1 835 000 (18.35 lakh) persons have been affected by the floods in the state.

About 413 relief camps are functional in 20 districts affected by the flood and 270 000 (2.7 lakh) persons are staying in these relief camps.

A composite team of officials from WHO National Public Health Support Project (NPSP) comprising Surveillance Medical Officers, Sub-Regional Team Lead for North-East, Rapid Response Team and external monitors deployed for immunization monitoring are providing technical assistance to the government at the state, district, and local levels.

Acknowledging the support from WHO, state government officials Dr Ashutosh Barman, Joint Director of Health Services, Cachar and Mr Rahul Ghose, District Program Manager, National Health Mission, Cachar appreciated the technical assistance provided to the district health teams by WHO field personnel specifically in planning, implementing and monitoring flood relief measures.

WHO teams have been working with state government agencies to strengthen surveillance of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) in the relief camps and flood affected areas.

WHO officers are supporting the state government in reviewing the status of cold chain equipment in the flooded areas; arranging sample collection and shipment due to disruption in road and telephone connectivity; providing inputs to the District Task Force by identifying bottlenecks in COVID-19 vaccination coverage; planning routine immunization sessions in the affected areas; data analysis and developing a reporting mechanism of flooded health sub-centers, where immunization sessions could not be conducted.