New Delhi: Even as parts of India experience the hottest summer in over 120 years, the Union government has urged States and Union Territories to review their healthcare arrangements and prepare for heat-related illnesses caused by current extreme temperatures.
Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan asked the States to disseminate the daily heat alerts shared by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) as well as the National Centre for Disease Control promptly at the district level.
Bhushan also asked the States to focus on the ‘National Action Plan on Heat-related Illnesses’ and disseminate the same at the district level.
India has been reeling under intense heatwave conditions for the past few weeks. Owing to scanty rains, northwest and central India experienced the hottest April in 122 years with average maximum temperatures touching 35.9 degrees Celsius and 37.78 degrees Celsius, respectively.
The Centre told States: ‘Please ensure that these daily surveillance reports are shared with the National Centre for Disease Control. The daily heat alerts shared by the India Meteorological Department as well as NCDC with states indicate forecast of heatwave for next three to four days, and may be disseminated promptly at district/health facility level.’