Top News

Center to deploy experts team to UP and Bihar to support addressing heat related illnesses

Amid ongoing heatwave in several states, a team of experts will visit Bihar and Uttar Pradesh to support these states in public health response measures to address heat-related illnesses.

Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday chaired a high level meeting related to public health preparedness for heat wave management across the country and directed that health experts from health ministry, ICMR, IMD and NDMA to visit these two states to address heat-related illnesses as these states are experiencing severe heat wave presently.

Underscoring the importance of sturdy and timely preparedness through awareness and early actions, Dr Mandaviya also directed ICMR to conduct research on how to minimise effect of heat wave on health, with specific short, medium and long term action plans.

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

The Union Minister said that the Centre has taken timely measures ahead of the summer season to address the heat wave related illnesses.  Prime Minister Narendra Modi also chaired a meeting to review preparedness ahead of the summer season March 2023, 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 said.

The health ministry had released National Action Plan on Heat related Illness in July 2021 that outlines Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for surveillance of heat stroke cases and deaths with preparedness plan before and during summer season. It also provides special emphasis on Heat Related Illness (HRI) in elderly, infants and children, pregnant women, outdoor and manual workers, and other vulnerable sections.

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,” said Mr Mandaviya.

Medlarge Bureau

Recent Posts

Orthopedic experts across globe discuss revision of ‘Knee and Hip Replacement surgeries’ in Delhi

A three-day “Revision Arthroplasty Conference” (RAC 2025) which commenced on Friday in the national capital…

9 minutes ago

“Hepatitis-free generation requires sustained public health action”

Under the Yellow Ribbon Campaign conceptualized in 1998 by Dr S K Sarin with the…

1 day ago

Doctor-population ratio 1:811 in India: Centre

In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Union Health Minister J…

2 days ago

AIDS in India: Around 50% drop in new infection, but ending HIV-AIDS health threat day-dream

India achieved 48.7 per cent decline in annual new HIV infections and 81.4 per cent reduction in AIDS-related…

2 days ago

54-year-old mother gets a second life after Heart Transplant at Manipal Hospital

In a significant medical achievement, doctors at HCMCT Manipal Hospital Dwarka, New Delhi, successfully performed…

2 days ago

Early detection of pollution-linked health risks must for vulnerable groups: Experts

Preventive health checks play a crucial role in identifying pollution-related risks early, especially for smokers,…

5 days ago