Boat Clinic in Rescue Mission
During the recent floods in Dhemaji district, residents of few river islands locally called sapories were trapped in their homes due to sudden surge and rise of water level in the Lali, a tributary of the Brahmaputra. TheDhemaji Boat Clinic swung into action were and successfully rescued them supported by aJonaibased organization, Mising Mimag Kebang (MMK)and local authorities. On 11th of August 2017, at 12.15 P.M, after consulting C-NES’ Programme Management Unit at Guwahati and informing the Joint Director, Dhemaji and District Programme Manager, National Health Mission, a team of 10 members went to the following sapories: Badalpur Barman, Kangkan, Lamba Missing, Lamba Millon, Apsara and Chengajan Koibatra and began the rescue operation. 518 people were rescued before dusk. The Boat reached Majorbari Ghat at 5.30 P.M. The rescued people were shifted to Somkong high School for further care.Again during the first wave of floods in Lakhimpur district with Subansiri and Ranganadi the two major tributaries overflowing the Lakhimpur Boat Clinic in association with District Administration, DHS and DDMA conducted health cum relief camps in worse affected areas and treated 1904 patients in 23 camps.
Apart from regular scheduled health camps, C-NES’Boat Clinics are also involved in emergency situations such as rescue operation, relief distribution, treatment and extending cooperation to the administration to help the needy dwelling in the Brahmaputra River Islands as and when required.Like earlier years, the 15 Boat Clinic units put in their best efforts while providing health care services to the marooned people in the river islands or in the make shift camps initiated by the district administration. Many units were unable to provide services immediately during floods especially in Upper Assam as the Brahmaputra is more turbulent here and the district administrations put a ban on ferry movement till the river subsided to safety levels. Post floods is very crucial as diseases become more prevalent especially water borne diseases. All units have been continuously provided health care services, tirelessly, till date.
It needs mention that through its regular awareness generation programmes, Boat Clinic teams always stress upon preventive measures to be taken for protection against communicable or non communicable diseases along with imparting lessons on the do’s and don’ts to be followed during floods, post floods or any such disaster situations. Such a holistic effort has contributed to minimizing risks to lives of people.