New Delhi, Feb 28: Amid unusual rise in temperatures in some places ahead of the summer season, the Union health ministry has written to all states and Union territories, asking them to ensure that all their health facilities update information on heat-related illnesses and deaths on the designated portal.
Drawing attention to “National Action Plan on Heat Related Illnesses”, which is available on website of National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the ministry requested for dissemination of guidance document to all districts for effective preparedness of health department and health facilities to address heat impact and management of cases arising because of it, record maintenance and surveillance etc.
From March 1, daily surveillance on heat-related illnesses under National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH) in all states and districts will be conducted on Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP), Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said in the letter to all states and Union territories.
“Please ensure that all the health facilities participate using existing P-form level login information and continue to keep line lists of cases and deaths as per the prescribed formats,” Bhushan said.
In the letter, Bhushan also urged all states and Union territories to review health facility preparedness for availability of adequate quantities of essential medicines, intravenous fluids, ice packs, ORS and all necessary equipment.
Availability of sufficient drinking water at all health facilities and continued functioning of cooling appliances in critical areas must be ensured, he said.
