PESHAWAR, July 27: The provincial health department has put in place an emergency plan to reduce casualties in the aftermath of floods and other calamities, it is learnt.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has agreed to provide technical and financial support, officials said. The plan could also be utilised during accidents and incidents such as bomb blasts.

“Similar plans have also been received from district governments that will be sent to higher authorities and policy-makers for final approval,” they said.

The NWFP’s director-general health services would head the emergency committee. Other committees, such as health cluster coordination committee, emergency information unit and surveillance committees would work under the director-general to ensure unhindered supply of drugs and logistics.

Donor organisations, including the WHO would be involved in the plan to raise personnel in hours of need.

“A unit would also be established in the health department to share information regarding casualties and needs of calamity-hit areas,” they said.

The provincial committee would issue directives to the departments concerned to establish early warning systems regarding spread of diseases and epidemics.

Officials said that an investigation unit would also be set up and storage for emergency drugs was also being planned. A coordinator would be appointed to distribute the drugs and other logistics to the affected areas, they added.

The committee would be set up at district levels and the EDOs would act as chairpersons of the emergency committees, they said.

A plan has also been chalked out to provide vaccination and establish mobile clinics and health teams to the affected population.