New Delhi: Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will review heatwave preparedness with the affected states over a video conference at noon today, informed health department sources. Dr. Mandaviya, on Tuesday (June 20), while chairing a high-level meeting in the national capital toreviewpublic healthpreparednesstodealwithheatwaveconditions prevailing in parts of the country, said that a team of officers will be senttostatesexperiencingheatwavestoassist the state governments.
A team of experts from the Union Health Ministry, ICMR, IMD and NDMA will visit the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to support them in public health response measures to address heat-related illnesses, the minister said.
Also Read: Heatwave Conditions: Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya To Chair Meeting On Public Health Preparedness
Underscoring the importance of sturdy and timelypreparedness through awareness and early actions, Dr Mandaviyahas also directed ICMRtoconduct research on howtominimise the effect of heat waves on health,withspecific short, medium and long-term action plans.
The Centre has taken timely measures ahead of the summer season to address the heat wave-related illnesses. Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting to review preparedness ahead of the summer season in March 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 added.
As per the Ministry of Health, during the meeting, Dr Mandaviyawas briefed on the status of heat waves in variousstatesand about thepreparednessof Central agencies in terms of the availability of required supplies and hospital infrastructuretoprovide timely and effective healthcare services.
He was also apprised that daily surveillance on heat-related illness under National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH) has been ensured in allstatesand districts on the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP) and all the health facilities have been askedtoparticipate using P-form level login, the ministry said.
The Union Health Minister asked IMDtoissue daily weather forecasts in a manner that can be easily interpreted and disseminated.
Dr V K Paul, Member (Health), Dr Rajiv Bahl, NITI Aayog, Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), alongwithIndia Meteorological Department (IMD) experts were also present at the meeting.
Many people are suffering from the scorching heat across the country.
On Monday, two persons amid soaring temperatures in the Gaya district of Bihar died at Anugrah Narayan Magadh Medical College, the hospital informed. Atotal of 58 patients were admitted at Anugrah Narayan Magadh Medical College on Monday.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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