Centre to send experts' team to UP, Bihar to aid in heatwave-related illnesses

The Centre will dispatch a team of experts from the Union Health Ministry, ICMR, IMD and NDMA to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, to support the two states in public health response measures to address heat-related illnesses.

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced the decision on Tuesday (June 20) at a high-level meeting related to public health preparedness for heatwave management across the country. The meeting was also attended by Union Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar and Dr V K Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog.

While several states have been reeling under intense heatwave conditions, Ballia Hospital in Uttar Pradesh has reported at least 68 heatwave-related deaths in the past few days. Four deaths have been reported from Bihar.

Also read: UP heatwave? 11 more die at Ballia district hospital, toll rises to 68

Underscoring the importance of sturdy and timely preparedness through awareness and early actions, Mandaviya also directed the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to conduct research on how to minimise the effects of heatwave on health, with specific short, medium and long-term action plans.

देशभर में भीषण गर्मी से उत्पन्न हो रही समस्याओं और सार्वजनिक स्वास्थ्य की तैयारियों को लेकर उच्च स्तरीय बैठक की।

जिन राज्यों में लू का प्रभाव है और हीट स्ट्रोक की घटना हुई है, उन्हें सहयोग देने हेतु केंद्र सरकार की टीम उन राज्यों में जाएगी। pic.twitter.com/Sj1HATsWYn

— Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) June 20, 2023

The health minister said the Centre has taken timely measures ahead of the summer season to address heatwave-related illnesses.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting to review preparedness ahead of the summer season in March, while the Health Ministry issued a heatwave advisory in February, advising the states to review health facility preparedness in terms of essential medicines, intravenous fluids, packs, ORS, drinking water as well as dissemination of necessary IEC materials.

The National Action Plan on Heat Related Illnesses was also shared with all the states.

At Tuesday’s meeting, Mandaviya was briefed on the status of heatwaves in various states and the preparedness of central agencies in terms of availability of required supplies and hospital infrastructure to provide timely and effective healthcare services.

He was also apprised that daily surveillance on heat-related illnesses under the National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH) has been ensured in all states and districts through the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP) and all the health facilities have been asked to participate using the P-form level login.

What National Action Plan advises states

The Union Health Ministry in July 2021 released the National Action Plan on Heat Related Illnesses. The document outlines the standard operating procedures (SOP) for surveillance of heatstroke cases and deaths with a preparedness plan before and during the summer season.

It also provides a special emphasis on Heat Related Illnesses (HRI) in elderly, infants and children, pregnant women, outdoor and manual workers, and other vulnerable sections.

Under this action plan, states are advised to increase resilience to extreme heat at the level of health facilities by ensuring uninterrupted electric supply, installation of solar panels and measures to reduce indoor heat through a cool or green roof, window shading, outside shades etc.

“Sensitisation of masses is important, but sensitisation and capacity building of medical officers, health staff and grass-root level workers on heat-related illnesses, their early recognition and management is also important,” Mandaviya said.

Also read: Heatwave causes deaths and disruptions in Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand

He urged the states and central agencies to enhance awareness among people regarding the preventive measures through multi-media IEC campaigns.

The health minister also asked the India Meteorological Department to issue daily weather forecasts in a manner that can be easily interpreted and disseminated.

(With inputs from agencies)