Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) has activated an Emergency Medical Advisory Hotline to support communities affected by ongoing severe weather conditions across the country. The hotline, 0777 119 900, enables the public to obtain medical guidance from qualified doctors, particularly in areas where access to hospitals has become difficult due to floods and landslides.
The SLMA states that the service aims to ensure uninterrupted access to essential medical advice at a time when many families are experiencing restricted mobility, disruptions to health services, and increased exposure to environmental health risks.
Health Risks Increase After Floods
Health authorities caution that several communicable diseases become more common after prolonged flooding. The public is urged to be alert to rising risks such as:
Leptospirosis (Rat Fever):
Transmitted through contaminated floodwater entering the body through wounds or broken skin.
Diarrhoea and Dysentery:
Often linked to drinking unsafe water or consuming contaminated food.
Dengue Fever:
Mosquito breeding increases rapidly in stagnant water left behind after heavy rainfall.
Skin Infections and Respiratory Illnesses:
Common in damp, unsanitary living conditions and among people exposed to polluted water.
Key Safety Measures for Communities
Ensure Safe Drinking Water:
Use only boiled, purified, or bottled water and store it in clean, covered containers.
Maintain Food Safety:
Eat freshly prepared meals, keep food covered, and wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly with clean or salted water.
Prevent Leptospirosis:
Avoid wading through floodwater whenever possible. If unavoidable, seek Doxycycline prophylaxis from your local MOH office or Public Health Inspector (PHI).
Keep Surroundings Clean:
Maintain clean, dry living spaces, dispose of waste properly, and remove stagnant water to reduce mosquito breeding.
Residents are advised to seek medical attention or call the SLMA hotline if they experience symptoms such as fever, muscle pain, chills, vomiting, severe tiredness, or any unusual or worsening health condition. For those unable to reach medical facilities due to the disaster situation, the hotline remains a critical source of timely medical support.