With the increase in heat in Rajasthan, the health department has started preparations to protect people from heat and heat-related diseases and departmental officers have been asked to prepare an action plan. Government spokesperson said that ‘Graded Response System’ will be implemented in the state to prevent heat wave and heat-borne diseases. Besides, necessary steps will be taken to protect the common people from heat wave and heat related diseases by making ‘Heat Action Plan’ at the state, district and block level. Under this, special arrangements will be ensured in the desert districts of the state, where the temperature remains high and heat waves prevail.
Additional Chief Secretary of the Medical and Health Department, Shubhra Singh, gave instructions in this regard in a state level video conference on Saturday regarding prevention, treatment and awareness activities against heat wave and heat-related diseases.
According to the official statement, Shubhra Singh said that the next two to three months can be challenging as the heat increases, in such a situation the department should be prepared to deal with every situation. He said that if the level of heat and heat increases, necessary steps should be taken by preparing a hierarchical system according to yellow, orange and red alerts.
He said that a ‘treatment protocol’ should be prepared to provide immediate treatment and other health services to the general public in case of heatstroke and heat-related diseases. Along with checking the functionality of the ambulance, kits for first aid should be prepared. Special wards should be created in hospitals. There should be adequate availability of medicines and test kits. Necessary training should be given to the lower level including doctors and paramedical staff.
The official said that in order to protect the common people from diseases in case of heat wave and extreme heat, an action plan should be made in coordination with various departments including Labor Department, Agriculture Department, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Local Government Department, Education Department. The action plan should be implemented at the grassroots level by holding a meeting with all concerned departments.