Odisha Health Dept Comes up with Action Plan to Tackle Heat Wave Situation

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Health and Family Welfare Department has come up with an action plan to tackle the prevailing heat wave situation in the State.

Shalini Pandit, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of Health Department, wrote to the Director Capital Hospital, Bhubaneswar & RGH Rourkela, Superintendents of all Medical Colleges and Hospitals, All CDM & PHOs regarding the heat wave action plan.

The Health Secretary urged them to undertake proactive measures to mitigate morbidity and mortality. She insisted to disseminate the “National Action Plan on Heat Related Illnesses”, & State Action Plan on Heat Related Illness guidance document to all sub district level for effective preparedness of health department and health facilities against heat impact and management of cases, record maintenance and surveillance etc

She also ordered to undertake investigation of suspected heat related illness death by medical officer/epidemiologist for each suspected heat related illness deaths/

Suspected heat related death will be enquired by local medical officer and revenue officer jointly as per the SRC Odisha guideline. Post mortem of all suspected heat related deaths are to be conducted. The information regarding death will be submitted to the State immediately. The confirmed deaths will be notified by SRC/ Collector of the District, she said.

Efforts should be made for sensitization and capacity building of medical officers, health staff, grassroot level workers on heat illness, its early recognition and management. Training manuals developed by NCDC on these subjects are available and may be used for the trainings, she added.

Health Facility preparedness must be reviewed for availability of earmarked beds, adequate quantities of essential medicines, intravenous fluids, ice packs, ORS and all necessary equipments to provide active, emergency medical care with uninterrupted power supply. Guidance on development of heatstroke room and emergency management of severe heat-related illnesses are disseminated. Availability of sufficient drinking water at all Health Facilities and continued functioning of cooling appliances in critical areas must be ensured, she added.

Districts may also utilize Information, Education and Communication (IEC) as well as Community Level awareness materials developed by NPCCHH & Director SIHFW regarding the precautions to be taken by population to safeguard them against heat wave, she further stated.