Public Health Director Asks to Prepare Comprehensive Action Plan for Management of Heat Stress Disorders

Bhubaneswar: The Director of Public Health, Odisha has asked the health officials to prepare comprehensive action plan for the proper management of heat stress disorders.

The Public Health Director wrote to the Director Capital Hospital, BBSR/RGH Hospital, Superintendent of all Govt. Medical Colleges and Hospitals, All Chief District Medical & Public Health Officers, Health Officers of all Municipality/Municipal Corporations, asking them to prepare brief comprehensive action plan to reduce morbidity and mortality due to heat stress disorders.

Heat wave changes usually occur from April- June in Odisha. Currently temperature has started rising in last weeks of February at different places across the state. Heat wave changes may cause heat stress disorders like, Heat Stroke, Heat Exhaustions, Heat Syncope, Heat cramp, Heat Rash etc. The district authority needs to plan the preventive and curative measures to reduce morbidity and mortality in the community, the letter stated.

The Health Director asked the health officers to provide status of stock and store position of medicines at Dist. Head quarter Hospitals along with details of quantity placed at health institutions upto Sub-centres.

He also directed them to ensure supply of adequate quantity of ORS packets and other heat stress related drugs to all the health institutions, Sub centres, ASHA AWW level and give the number of beds earmarked for heat stress disorder patients (Institution wise) i.e. DHH, SDH, CHC & PHC.

All DHH/SDH should have earmarked Air conditioned rooms for management of Heat stress disorders. Control rooms should be functional round the clock from 1. March to 15th July up to PHC level, the Health Director said.