State ready for public health challenges in summer: Min

Bhubaneswar: Revenue and disaster management minister Suresh Pujari on Thursday informed the Odisha assembly that the state govt is adopting all measures needed to tackle heatstroke and sunstroke during summer.He said drinking water kiosks are being set up at markets, bus stands and other crowded places in both rural and urban areas. The govt has also asked all district collectors to ensure drinking water supply through tankers in areas with water crisis. Directives has been issued to officials concerned to immediately repair tube wells and piped water supply systems to keep them fully functional.The health and family welfare department has ensured adequate stocks of life-saving medicines, saline and ORS in health centres and hospitals, besides arranging separate beds for heatstroke patients.

The commerce and transport department, in coordination with district collectors, has been directed to reschedule buses and other passenger vehicles during severe heatwave conditions to limit operations during peak heat hours. The energy department has been directed to ensure uninterrupted power supply.The govt has also ordered changes in labour work schedules so that workers are not assigned duties during the hottest part of the day.

Sufficient cold drinking water and ORS will be kept at workplaces. Concerned departments have been instructed to provide separate water-filled containers for domestic animals and wildlife.Pujari said the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority has been asked to prepare and distribute heatwave safety posters at the district-level and spread awareness through various media.OSDMA has also been directed to conduct awareness programmes in schools across all 30 districts to educate students on protection from heatstroke.

Posters and banners are being distributed for display in crowded places.Based on inputs from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Bhubaneswar, advance warnings on temperature and humidity are being shared with district collectors and concerned departments. All district collectors have been asked to remain alert and take appropriate action in response to heatwave conditions.In view of the ongoing heatwave, 24-hour control rooms have been made operational at the state- and district levels.Training on heatstroke mitigation and management is being provided to district-level officers in all 30 districts. Doctors and paramedical staff in all 30 districts and 377 community health centres are also being trained on heatstroke, heat stress and related ailments.A heat wave action plan has been prepared for all 30 districts and municipal corporations. In collaboration with the Council on Energy, Environment and Water, OSDMA has also prepared heatwave action plans for 10 urban areas, while planning is underway for 31 more.The minister said heatstroke-related deaths have been declared a state-specific disaster and financial assistance of Rs 50,000 is being provided to the families of the deceased from the State Disaster Response Fund.