A team of officers will be sent to states experiencing heatwaves to support the state governments, the Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced on Tuesday while serving as the meeting’s chair and reviewing public health preparation to address the conditions that have caused heatwaves in some areas of the nation.
“A team of experts from the Union Health Ministry, ICMR, IMD and NDMA will visit the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to support them in public health response measures to address heat-related illnesses,” the minister said.
In order to assess how well the public health services in the nation were prepared for heatwaves, Mansukh Mandaviya presided over a high-level conference on Tuesday in the capital.
Mandaviya has also asked the ICMR to conduct research on how to decrease the impact of heat waves on health, with particular short, medium, and long-term action plans. This is done to emphasise the necessity of strong and timely preparedness through awareness and early actions.
“The Centre has taken timely measures ahead of the summer season to address the heat wave-related illnesses. Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting to review preparedness ahead of the summer season in March while the Union Health Ministry issued a heat wave advisory in February where States were advised to review health facility preparedness in terms of essential medicines, intravenous fluids, packs, ORS, drinking water as well as dissemination of necessary IEC materials,” he added.
According to the Ministry of Health, Mandaviya was informed at the meeting about the condition of heat waves in different states as well as the readiness of Central agencies in terms of the availability of necessary supplies and hospital facilities to deliver prompt and efficient medical care.
It was also apprised that daily surveillance on heat-related illness under National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH) has been ensured in all states and districts on the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP) and all the health facilities have been asked to participate using P-form level login, the ministry said.
“Sensitization of masses is important, but sensitization and capacity building of medical officers, health staff, and grass-root level workers on heat-related illness, its early recognition and management is also important,” the Union Health Minister said.
He further asked states and federal organisations to use multi-media IEC programmes to increase public awareness of preventive actions.
The Union Health Minister requested that IMD provide daily weather forecasts in a way that is simple to understand and spread.
Experts from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Dr. V. K. Paul, Member (Health), Dr. Rajiv Bahl, NITI Aayog, Director General, and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) were also present at the meeting.
Many people are suffering from the scorching heat across the country.
On Monday, two persons amid soaring temperatures in the Gaya district of Bihar died at Anugrah Narayan Magadh Medical College, the hospital informed.
A total of 58 patients were admitted at Anugrah Narayan Magadh Medical College on Monday.
The Patna District Magistrate has suspended all academic activities up to Class 12 in Patna due to the ongoing heat wave. The order will remain effective till June 24.
