Context :
- Government Directive: The Union government has instructed States to assess and enhance health facility preparedness for managing heat-related illnesses.
- Health Risks Due to Rising Temperatures: With the onset of summer, exposure to extreme heat is expected to rise, necessitating proactive health measures.
- Union Health Secretary’s Advisory: Punya Salila Srivastava emphasized the need for uninterrupted power supply, cooling appliances, solar panels, and NDMA-recommended heat mitigation measures.
Relevance : GS 2(Governance & Health Policy) ,GS 3(Disaster Management)
Measures Suggested for Health Facility Preparedness
- Medical Infrastructure:
- Ensure adequate stock of essential medicines, IV fluids, ice packs, and oral rehydration solutions.
- Maintain necessary emergency cooling equipment.
- Sustainability Measures:
- Install solar panels where feasible.
- Implement rainwater harvesting and recycling plants to ensure water self-sufficiency.
- Adopt energy conservation techniques and cooling solutions such as green roofs and window shades.
- Public Health Strategy:
- Dissemination of public health and clinical guidelines on heat-related illnesses (available on the National Centre for Disease Control website).
- Daily surveillance and monitoring of heatstroke cases on the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP) from March 1.
Broader Context and Linked Issues
- Rising Temperature Trends:
- India has witnessed early heatwaves in recent years, with March and April recording above-normal temperatures in several regions.
- IMD’s forecast suggests higher-than-normal temperatures in 2024, increasing vulnerability to heat-related illnesses.
- Previous Heatwave Impact:
- 2023 Heatwave Impact: India recorded over 110 heatwave days across multiple states, leading to increased hospitalizations and fatalities.
- Occupational Health Risks: Vulnerable groups such as outdoor workers, construction laborers, and farmers face the highest exposure risks.
- Policy and Institutional Measures:
- National Action Plan on Heat-Related Illnesses: Guidelines by NDMA and State-specific heat action plans in place, but their implementation remains uneven.
- Urban Heat Island Effect: Cities like Delhi and Mumbai experience higher localized temperatures, worsening health impacts.
- International Best Practices:
- Countries like Spain and France have implemented cooling shelters, awareness campaigns, and early warning systems to reduce heat-related mortality.
Way Forward
- Strengthening Heat Action Plans across all states with localized risk assessment.
- Enhancing Awareness Campaigns to educate vulnerable populations on heat safety measures.
- Expanding Infrastructure Support in rural and urban areas, ensuring access to cooling shelters and emergency medical aid.
- Leveraging Technology to improve real–time monitoring and predictive analysis for extreme heat events.
