The Ministry of Health (MoH) on October 29 decided to establish seven working groups to address post-flooding environmental issues, promote disease prevention, and offer nutrition consultation to seven central provinces which were hit by recent storms and floods.

Houses submerged by flood water in Quang Tri province

The provinces are Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai and Binh Dinh.

Members of the groups include personnel from the General Department of Preventive Medicine, Health Environment Management Agency, Vietnam Food Administration, National Institute of Malariology Parasitology and Entomology, National Institute of Nutrition, and Nha Trang Pasteur Institute.

They will work together to assess the risk of infectious diseases and response ability of local health care system; and examine, supervise and support local medical workers and people in taking measures to tackle environmental issues, spraying insecticides, and sterilising water containers.

Besides, they will give nutrition advice to local people, particularly pregnant women, children and the elderly.

The MoH ordered health departments to join hands with heads of the working groups to outline plans for medical stations at grassroots level to prevent diseases after flooding.