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APSC Answer Writing (Daily) based on Assam Tribune – 03/06/2025

For APSC CCE and other Assam Competitive examinations aspirants, practicing Daily Answer Writing is vital. This blog covers the most important Main question and its model Answer from the Assam Tribune today (03-06-2025).

📝 Mains Question (GS Paper 3 – Disaster Management | Public Health | Governance):

Q. Post-flood health risks in Assam pose a serious governance and disaster management challenge. Examine the public health impacts of floods in Assam. What strategies can be adopted to build a resilient flood-health response system in vulnerable regions?

📘 Model Answer

Introduction

Floods are a recurring disaster in Assam, affecting over 19 districts annually, displacing lakhs, and damaging critical infrastructure. Beyond the immediate damage, floods create a public health emergency, leading to outbreaks of diarrhoeal diseases, vector-borne illnesses, skin infections, and disruptions to maternal and child health services. As climate variability increases, so does the risk of health crises post-floods, necessitating an integrated and anticipatory approach.

Public Health Impacts of Floods in Assam

Health Risk	Description
Waterborne Diseases	Contaminated water sources lead to diarrhoea, cholera, dysentery
Vector-Borne Diseases	Stagnant water triggers malaria, dengue, chikungunya outbreaks
Skin and Eye Infections	Long exposure to water, poor hygiene in camps
Nutrition and Immunity	Floods disrupt food supply chains, affecting children and lactating women
Mental Health Issues	Anxiety, trauma, and stress in displaced populations
Livestock Diseases	Zoonotic risks increase when livestock die or mingle with floodwater

Challenges in Flood-Health Management

Weak Primary Healthcare Access
- Many PHCs and Sub-Centres are submerged or inaccessible during floods.
Overcrowded Relief Camps
- Poor sanitation, lack of menstrual hygiene kits, and disease transmission hotspots.
Shortage of Medical Supplies & Staff
- Sudden demand spikes stress the limited health infrastructure.
Delayed Disease Surveillance
- Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) often reports with a lag.
Coordination Gaps
- Multiple departments (Health, ASDMA, PHED) may not act in synergy.

Recent Government Measures

Activation of district-level health control rooms and flood-health cells
Pre-positioning of ORS, halogen tablets, and essential drugs in high-risk blocks
Deployment of mobile medical units, ASHAs, ANMs, and lab technicians
Daily health surveillance reports submitted to IDSP and ASDMA
Chlorination of water sources and fogging for vector control in camps

Way Forward: Building a Resilient Health-Flood System

A. Policy & Planning

🧾 Develop a State Flood-Health Preparedness Protocol, updated annually
🗺️ Integrate climate risk mapping with district health plans

B. Infrastructure

🏥 Construct elevated PHCs and Sub-Centres in flood-prone zones
🚐 Ensure fully equipped mobile clinics for inaccessible areas

C. Technology and Surveillance

📡 Use real-time outbreak alert tools via GIS and IDSP platforms
📱 Create an SMS-based public alert system for disease symptoms and precautions

D. Human Resources and Community Engagement

👩‍⚕️ Train ASHAs and local volunteers in epidemic control and hygiene promotion
📢 Run IEC campaigns in flood season on water purification and ORS usage

E. Inter-departmental Coordination

🤝 Conduct mock drills involving Health, PHED, ASDMA, and Education departments
🐄 Collaborate with Animal Husbandry to monitor and control zoonotic threats

Conclusion

Post-flood public health management in Assam is not just a medical challenge but a governance test. As extreme weather events increase due to climate change, the state must invest in a climate-resilient, technology-integrated, and community-driven health response system. The long-term goal should be to transform disaster episodes into opportunities for health system strengthening and social equity.

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