Hyderabad: The central government has consulted states and trade union territory (UTS), outlining various implementation measures for the health sector this summer.
In consultations introduced to the U.S. chief secretary and consultant, Punya Salila Srivastava, secretary of the Department of Health and Family Welfare, may increase caloric exposure, including extremes, as the summer begins. Some parts of the country have begun to witness the heat.
According to Srivastava, patient-level information about clinical diagnosis of heat hits is being captured through daily surveillance, through integrated health information platform (IHIP) for all states and UTS. To this end, NCDC’s National Climate Change and Human Health Program recently conducted training courses in virtual mode.
The daily thermal alert generated by IMD is shared with the NPCCHH of NCDC. These alerts include heat wave forecasts for the next three to four days and may be spread quickly to all healthcare facilities. State, regional and urban health departments can ensure implementation of thermal health action plans and plan, manage and evaluate responses to calories with other response agencies.
The health departments of states and UTS must continue to work to build sensitivity and capacity for medical staff, health personnel and grassroots staff on fever diseases (its early recognition and management). Training manuals developed by NCDC on these topics can be used for training.
The preparation of the medical institution must be reviewed to obtain sufficient quantities of essential medications, intravenous fluids, ice packs and ORS and all necessary equipment to provide active emergency cooling. Guidelines for developing stroke management departments and emergency management of severe fever-related diseases have been spread.
It is necessary to ensure adequate drinking water for all medical institutions and to ensure that cooling equipment in critical areas continues to operate. Fire safety of sanitary facilities is crucial. Sanitary facilities should be thoroughly inspected, safe and electrical load audited, and ensure NOC compliance.
Medical institutions need to increase their resilience to heat by arranging uninterrupted electricity to keep cooling equipment running, install solar panels where feasible, energy-saving measures and measures to reduce indoor heat through cool or green roofs, window shades, curtains outside, etc.
It is also possible to explore rainwater collection and recycling plants for self-sufficiency in the water. The state can also utilize information, education and communication (IEC) developed by NPCCHH, as well as community-level awareness materials to protect people’s precautions to protect their own heat waves.
