The Health Minister of Hyderabad, T Harish Rao, stated that the government is prepared to handle the current heatwave conditions in the state. The government has taken steps such as campaign programs and ensuring that medicines are available at PHCs. The Minister participated in a review meeting organised by the Union Health Ministry with Health Ministers and Disaster Management Officers from seven States. They discussed measures to be taken in response to increased temperatures and hailstorms.
The Minister explained that the Health department was alerted early and followed a two-pronged strategy for public health care. Two medical officers per district received special training, and they trained all medical staff from health centres, including sub-centres and PHCs at the district level. The Minister said that public health and hospital response systems were ready.
The government conducted campaign programs to make people aware of precautions to be taken, made necessary medicines available in hospitals including PHC, UPHC, and provided sheds and water facilities in bus stands, railway stations, building construction areas, and employment guarantee works. The government is ready to treat adults and children suffering from sunstroke. Speciality wards and ICU beds have been arranged in hospitals, and 108 ambulances are available with necessary medicines to provide immediate medical assistance.
The Minister advised people of the state to take precautions due to the intense heatwave conditions. Timely alerts by the Central Government and Meteorological Department will help speed up early measures by governments in all States.
