Mandaviya reviews heatwave situation

The Centre has directed states to share data on heatwaves, including that on deaths and cases for better assessment of the situation.

“Effective disaster response and management is a collaborative work. With coordinated actions between Centre and states, we can surely ensure there are no deaths due to heat waves,” Mandaviya.

Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Telangan have been experiencing severe heat wave conditions.

Mandaviya urged the states to implement action plans, with a timely warning to people and ensure preventive preparedness to reduce the impact of heatwaves.

“A granular status and analysis of overall heatstroke cases and deaths in India and heat-related illness in the seven affected states was made by the Health Ministry officials covering the trajectory of total emergency OPD, suspected and confirmed heatstroke cases and deaths; and their reporting as per Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP) portal,” the health ministry said in a statement.

Mandaviya said that heatwave alerts and forecasts from the Indian Metrological Department (IMD) are being amplified and shared with all states daily by the Centre. He urged states to develop training manuals on heat and health for state officials, medical officers and health workers.

“State-level trainers need to ensure that their training is up to field level. Capacity building of medical officers, health staff & sensitization of grassroots level workers on heat illness, with focus on early recognition and management using training manuals provided by Union Health Ministry is crucial”, he said.

States were also advised to review health facility preparedness in terms of essential medicines, intravenous fluids, Ice-packs, ORS, drinking water, ensuring uninterrupted electricity supply, installation of solar panels and adopting measures to reduce indoor heat through installation of cool/green roof, window shading, shades.

Updated: 21 Jun 2023, 04:02 PM IST