Lei Haichao, vice-minister of the National Health Commission (NHC), led a working group to inspect and guide health emergency responses in flood-ravaged Zhengzhou, capital city of Central China's Henan province, from July 21 to 23.

The working group visited Fuwai Central China Cardiovascular Hospital, Henan Children's Hospital, the Henan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Longzihu community health service center to learn about the flood impact and provide guidance on disaster relief and medical aid. Experts were also dispatched to relocation sites of residents in Gongyi, a city under the jurisdiction of Zhengzhou.

The group urged Henan to improve working plans on hygiene and epidemic prevention, pay close attention to drinking water safety, disposal of waste, pollutants and animal carcasses, as well as vector-borne disease prevention and control so as to improve the environment and sanitary conditions.

Meanwhile, it emphasized efforts to figure out the damages of medical institutions and facilities and medical staff casualties to restore normal medical services as soon as possible. It also called for post-disaster epidemic prevention measures throughout the society, health education and psychological counseling to ensure the physical and psychological health of residents in flood-hit areas.