web DeskThe Ministry of Public Health is urgently sending the MERT team to mobilize medical personnel to help flood victims in Chiang Rai Province.
Mr. Somsak Thepsuthin, Minister of Public Health, revealed that the flood situation in the northern provinces, especially Chiang Rai Province, has caused a large number of people to suffer in terms of property, living conditions, and health. Many households have elderly people, patients, and children. The Ministry of Public Health is concerned about the people in the affected areas. Therefore, it has ordered the agencies under its supervision to urgently provide assistance and alleviate the people’s suffering as quickly as possible. It has set up a Public Health Emergency Operations Center (PHEOC) to monitor the situation and provide assistance to the people, together with all sectors. In addition, it has ordered the Department of Medical Services to urgently send a MERT team to Chiang Rai Province, coordinating with the area to organize the treatment workload efficient
ly and reach the most people.
Dr. Amporn Benjapolpitak, Director-General of the Department of Medical Services, revealed that the Department of Medical Services held a meeting to help flood victims in accordance with the order from the Ministry of Public Health. The operation was carried out in many parts, such as sending medicine and medical supplies, coordinating in the area to treat patients, providing medical knowledge on the care and prevention of diseases caused by floods, and organizing a tertiary level medical emergency response team (MERT) to work with doctors in the area to rotate to help people, triage, and provide initial care to emergency patients to ensure their safety before sending them to the hospital. The medical team has expertise and works as a team with other agencies under the emergency command system according to international standards. It is an operational team with high readiness and agility in terms of personnel, tools, and materials. The MERT team must clearly take on the mission
at the Chiang Rai Provincial Public Health Office. Initially, the team was assigned to support and take care of the shelter at Wat Huai Plakang, Mueang District, Chiang Rai Province.
The MERT team of the Department of Medical Services that went to the area today (13 September) consists of 23 personnel, including 4 doctors, 8 nurses, 1 pharmacist, 1 emergency worker, 7 rescue workers, 1 communications officer, and 1 technician. They are personnel from the Medical Academic Division, Rajavithi Hospital, Lerdsin Hospital, Nopparat Rajathanee Hospital, and have received support from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation in transporting materials and equipment. Initially, it is expected that they will be assigned a mission for 5 days, depending on the situation and the missions assigned in the area.
Source: Thai News Agency
