As Cyclone ‘Montha’ approaches Odisha’s coastline, the state’s Health and Family Welfare Department has activated a robust disaster-response framework to ensure uninterrupted medical services during and after the storm. From remote Arogya Mandirs to medical colleges, every health facility has been placed on high alert, equipped with essential drugs, emergency teams, and coordinated control rooms to safeguard public health in vulnerable districts.

The department has stockpiled massive reserves: over 3.71 crore paracetamol tablets, 1.87 crore ORS packets, 3.82 crore zinc tablets, 1.75 crore halogen tablets, 3.02 lakh anti-snake venom injections, and 67.04 lakh bleaching powder packets. Blood banks are fully stocked with life-saving units, oxygen cylinders, and plasma, while additional supplies and medical personnel are on standby for rapid deployment. Emergency wards have been reinforced with trauma kits, and 108 and 102 ambulance services, mobile health units, and rapid response teams are synchronized with district control rooms.

Medical college superintendents have been directed to work in lockstep with district chief medical officers to ensure specialized care remains accessible. In anticipation of flooding and disease outbreaks, authorities have pre-positioned medicines for water-borne and vector-borne illnesses, alongside launching immediate public awareness campaigns in high-risk areas.

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With 24×7 control rooms now operational at district headquarters hospitals, Odisha’s health infrastructure stands ready to deliver swift, effective care to cyclone-affected communities. These proactive measures reflect the state’s battle-tested disaster resilience, aiming to minimize health risks and save lives amid nature’s fury.

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