Bt10m put aside to help flood victim

The minister has also ordered provincial public health offices across the country to set up similar centres and monitor not just the floods but also waterborne diseases and be prepared to offer immediate medical aid.

The ministry's deputy permanent secretary, Dr Siriporn Kanshana, will run the emergency operation.

Chavarat said, so far, the ministry had allocated emergency funds for seven flooded provinces, namely Nakhon Phanom, Petchabun, Pichit, Phitsanulok, Lop Buri, Saraburi and Nakon Ratchasima. It has also made firstaid kits available.

Meanwhile, acting Deputy Health Minister Vichan Meenchaiyanant has encouraged people to use the 1669 hotline to report any floodrelated emergen¬cies.

He said the rescue team would be at the site in 10 minutes, and the medical care mobile team would provide immediate aid.

Moreover, Vichan has warned people to protect themselves from waterborne diseases such as diar¬rhoea, dengue fever, leptospirosis and conjunctivitis. So far there have been no reports of infections, he added.

The Health Ministry's permanent secretary Dr Prat Boonyavongvirot said about 10,000 residents in Lop Buri province were suffering from rash, athlete's foot and influenza.