PTI

New Delhi, May 1

Amid rising temperature and heatwave throughout the nation, the Centre has urged states/UTs to overview their well being facility preparedness for availability of satisfactory portions of important medicines and all obligatory gear whereas guaranteeing ample ingesting water and continued functioning of cooling home equipment in vital areas.

In a letter to the states/UTs on Saturday, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan requested them to disseminate the rule doc ‘National Action Plan on Heat Related Illnesses’ to all districts for efficient administration of instances of heatwave. The letter mentions that from March 1, each day surveillance on heat-related diseases has been initiated below the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) in all states and districts.

“Please ensure that these daily surveillance reports are shared with the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC),” it mentioned.

“The daily heat alerts shared by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) as well as NCDC with states indicate forecast of heatwave for next three to four days, and may be disseminated promptly at district/health facility level,” Bhushan mentioned within the letter.

He mentioned well being division of the state should proceed efforts on sensitisation and capability constructing of medical officers, well being employees and grassroot degree staff on warmth sickness, its early recognition and administration.

“Health facility preparedness must be reviewed for availability of adequate quantities of essential medicines, IV fluids, ice packs, ORS and all necessary equipment. Availability of sufficient drinking water at all Health Facilities and continued functioning of cooling appliances in critical areas must be ensured,” the letter said.

Health amenities want to extend resilience to excessive warmth by arranging uninterrupted electrical energy for fixed functioning of cooling home equipment, set up of photo voltaic panels, measures to cut back indoor warmth by cool/inexperienced roof, window shades, shade outdoors, amongst others.

Rainwater harvesting and recycling crops may additionally be explored for self sufficiency in water, the letter highlighted.

States may additionally utilise Information, Education and Communication (IEC) in addition to group degree consciousness supplies relating to the precautions to be taken by the inhabitants to safeguard themselves in opposition to warmth waves, it added.