Medical relief post urban floods in a South Indian City-lessons learnt in disaster response and planning

In December 2015 Chennai, experienced record breaking maximum rainfall of the whole century and was drowned with heavy floods. Medical relief was highly skewed, often a knee jerk reaction to a media report and the directives of the government.

Forty-three camps were organized and conducted by Saveetha Medical College and Hospital post floods. Data regarding age and sex and diagnosis was analyzed using proportions. After the camps a focus group discussion was organized among faculty of various departments, staff and other paramedics who were involved in organizing and conducting the flood relief camps. Discussion was recorded and data was analyzed using qualitative methods.

A total of 7845 people were screened and treated at these camps. Fever was the most common complaint followed by Respiratory tract infection. Critical review of medical relief camps via focused group discussion brought out many points like Setting up of Disaster Relief Coordinating Cell, Lack of proper infrastructure for camps, Duplication of work.

Health teams should be trained to manage the situations during disasters. Relief Coordination Center at the national level can be made to co-ordinate various disaster relief activities.