Bhubaneswar: Odisha Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Satyabrata Sahu has written to the state Health and Family Welfare Department urging the latter to take necessary precautionary measures to tackle the heatwave conditions prevailing across the state. He has also requested the Health Department to review the stock of supplies of medicines and other medical items at the CHC/PHC/Sub Divisional and District Headquarters Hospitals (DHHs).
In his letter to the Secretary-cum-Commissioner of the Health and Family Welfare Department, Sahu wrote, “Due to prevailing dry conditions across the state and the strengthening of north-westerly dry winds in the middle and upper levels of atmosphere, the maximum temperature (day temperature) is likely to be 40°C or more in places in the districts of interior Odisha and the maximum temperature is likely to be above normal by 2°C to 3°C in a few districts in coastal Odisha. The weather conditions will likely be hot and humid over coastal Odisha this week.”
The letter added, “It is, therefore, requested that the CHC/PHC/Sub Divisional and District Headquarters Hospitals’ basic health facilities be reviewed to tackle heat-related problems. Doctors and health workers at the grassroots level may be sensitized properly.”