MUSCAT: The Sector of Medical Response and Public Health has affirmed its readiness to deal with the current adverse weather condition that is currently impacting various governorates in the Sultanate of Oman.
The sector devised a plan to ensure sustained services at health institutions in the impacted areas.
Dr Mohammed bin Saif al Bousafi, the centre’s coordinator at the National Committee for Emergency Management (NCEM), said that an emergency operations chamber has been activated and that coordination is underway with departments that provide electric power backup to health institutions in the affected areas.
Al Bousafi added that the overall aim is to secure sustained services to citizens and residents at health institutions and to spare employees and patients any potential risks.
Al Bousafi also affirmed the availability of basic services, medical supplies and medicines in health institutions and warehouses in the affected governorates. He added that a plan was set to augment the capacity of Ibra Hospital in response to reports of some people being stranded or missing in inundated sectors of adjoining valleys.
Al Bousafi pointed that measures were undertaken to maintain communication and coordination with operation units of the Royal Oman Police and the Royal Air Force of Oman so that they could lend support when needed.
Acting in coordination with the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the authorities have also devised epidemic preparedness plans to be implemented in the aftermath of the climatic condition, Al Bousafi explained.
Yesterday, health institutions in Al Sharqiyah North Governorate dealt with various casualties, including 13 deaths, Al Bousafi said.
He added that recent health emergencies included a dystocia (obstructed childbirth) case of a woman in labour who had to be airlifted from Jaalan Bani Bu Hassan Hospital to Sur Hospital and 4 medical emergency cases that were airlifted from Wadi Hatt to Al Rustaq Hospital.
Al Bousafi said that, as a precautionary measure, some health institutions in contingency-prone areas were closed, including Al Rahma Hospital in Muscat Governorate, Al-Oyoun Health Centre, Wadi Nam Health Centre in Al Sharqiyah North Governorate and Al Bashaer Health Centre in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate. — ONA
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
