The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has extended financial and material assistance to Kerala which is struggling to find its feet after the devastating deluge that left 223 dead in a fortnight and forced over 10 lakh people out of their homes.



More than Rs 1 crore has been handed over to the state, along with relief materials sent from regional branches, IMA president Dr Ravi Wankhedkar said. A national coordination committee, under the leadership former chief of IMA Dr Vinay Aggarwal, has been formed, while the rescue and relief operations were being monitored by Dr Wankhedkar.

"The committee's focus is on providing immediate medical assistance to those rescued from the flooded areas. "Over 500 rescue camps with medical professionals have been deployed for this purpose and the IMA has instructed all private hospitals to provide free consultation services to flood affected people," the IMA president said.

"To rescue them, we have also arranged for a free ambulance service throughout the state and medicines worth over Rs 50 Lakh have been distributed," Dr Wankhedkar said. The IMA State Research Cell, in association with government agencies was preparing a document on the impact of flood on the health of people, and possible avenues of managing the same. It would be finalised by the first week of September.

"We believe that the rescue work will be completed soon and the next focus will be on relief and rehabilitation. Manpower will be mobilized to over 1800 rescue camps and ambulance network will continue to provide its free services. "Over 1,000 medical students have volunteered to assist in providing medical services," Dr Aggarwal said. Moreover, the national coordination committee of the IMA has ensured safe drinking water, proper hand hygiene and waste management to curb the threat of spread of infectious diseases.