Bihar gears up for heatwave with special wards in Govt Hospitals

Patna: The Bihar Health Department has issued a statewide alert and launched proactive measures to safeguard citizens against heat-related illnesses due to the rising temperatures and potential heatwave conditions. In response, the State Health Committee has directed all government hospitals to set up dedicated wards for treating those affected by heat-related illnesses.

These heightened measures come in response to predictions of extreme temperatures across the region. Vulnerable groups such as children, school-going students, the elderly, and pregnant or lactating women have been identified as most at risk, especially those required to be outdoors during peak heat hours.

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As per the recent media reports by English Jagran, Hospitals have been directed to make special arrangements, including the provision of clean drinking water, to tackle health issues caused by extreme heat. The department has emphasised the need for proper medical management, including ensuring the availability of essential medicines, particularly for diarrhea, ambulance services, and the deployment of sufficient medical personnel.

According to the new guidelines, all government hospitals are to designate special heatwave wards equipped with 24/7 medical support. Doctors and paramedical staff will be posted on a rotational duty roster to ensure continuous care, with on-call medical personnel available at all times. Each ward must be stocked with adequate beds, essential medical supplies, and cooling equipment to handle a potential surge.

To strengthen emergency response, all ambulances operating under the government healthcare system are being upgraded to handle heat-related emergencies more effectively. All ambulances will be equipped with air conditioning, oxygen supplies, and essential medical equipment to ensure the safe and comfortable transport of patients to healthcare facilities.

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Medical Dialogues had previously reported that the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued warnings of heat wave to severe heat wave conditions across various regions, including Gangetic West Bengal, Sub Himalayan West Bengal, north Odisha, East Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Rayalaseema, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry & Karaikal, and Kerala for April 27 to 28.