Press Release
MUMBAI—July 17, 2017— Americares India has deployed medical teams to treat survivors of severe flooding in the state of Assam. More than 700 villages in 26 of Assam’s 32 districts have been damaged due to flooding caused by heavy rainfall. Incessant rains in recent weeks have disrupted normal life and have inundated thousands of acres of agricultural land. The flooding has caused landslides, blocked highways and damaged roads and bridges. Without access to safe drinking water, sanitation and health care facilities, the health of hundreds of thousands of people is at risk.
Americares has emergency response teams working in two of Assam’s worst hit districts—Karimgunj and Lakhimpur. Doctors and medical volunteers are providing primary care in flood-affected areas through health camps in remote villages. Americares plans to treat approximately 4,000 patients through these health camps. Additionally, relief will be provided through the distribution of health and hygiene kits.
“The heavy rains have heightened health concerns in the state,” said Shripad Desai, Americares India managing director. “Dysentery, skin infections and water-borne diseases are a major issue. We are focused on meeting survivors’ most immediate health needs.”
Americares India, based in Mumbai, provides emergency medical and humanitarian aid in response to floods, cyclones, earthquakes and other disasters. Most recently, the Americares India team responded to the 2016 floods in Assam and Bihar and conducted long-term health systems recovery in Tamil Nadu in the aftermath of the 2015 floods. Americares India also provides health education, supports health worker safety programs and operates seven mobile health centers that provide free primary care services in more than 130 locations across the slums of Mumbai.
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