Health Ministry team to visit Bihar, Uttar Pradesh to help with heat-related illnesses, says Mandaviya
The HinduA team of experts from the Union Health Ministry will visit States such as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to support them in public health response measures to address heat-related illnesses, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Tuesday. “Several states have been experiencing severe heat conditions since the past few days and this underscores the importance of sturdy and timely preparedness through awareness and early actions,” Mr. Mandaviya said, adding that the Ministry had issued a heatwave advisory earlier this year in which the States were advised to review health facility preparedness in terms of essential medicines, intravenous fluids, ORS, drinking water, and so on. Under this action plan, States were advised to increase preparedness to extreme heat at health facilities level by arranging uninterrupted electric supply, installation of solar panels and adopting measures to reduce indoor heat through measures of cool/green roof, window shading, outside shades and so on. “Sensitisation of masses is important, but sensitisation 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,” the Health Ministry said, urging the States and Central agencies to awareness among people regarding the preventive measures.