Jharkhand NHM Issues Heatwave Advisory as Temperatures Soar Across State

Jharkhand NHM Issues Heatwave Advisory as Temperatures Soar Across State

With temperatures recording a significant rise across Jharkhand, the state chapter of the National Health Mission (NHM) has issued a crucial directive to civil surgeons in all 24 districts. The advisory focuses on strengthening preparations for the prevention, monitoring, and treatment of heatwave-related illnesses to mitigate health risks during the escalating heat.

Immediate Measures and Hospital Arrangements

Issuing the advisory, NHM director Shashi Prakash Jha urged civil surgeons to ensure adequate arrangements in hospitals to efficiently attend to patients suffering from heat-related conditions. He emphasized that all medical facilities in the districts must allot five beds to establish a heatstroke management unit, dedicated to providing timely treatment to affected individuals.

Key directives include:

• All patients visiting outpatient departments must be checked for heatstroke-related illnesses.
• Essential supplies such as intravenous fluid, oral rehydration solution (ORS), necessary medicines, and equipment must be available in district hospitals and community health centres statewide.
• Water coolers and fans must be installed at OPDs to provide relief to patients.

Emergency Protocols and Public Awareness

The advisory recommended that civil surgeons immediately transfer patients suffering from heatstroke to higher facilities using 108 ambulances, aiming to reduce fatalities. It stressed the importance of preliminary treatment at community health centres before referral to district hospitals.

Coordination and preparedness are critical: Community health centres must ensure coordination with the nearest district hospital to provide advance notice of any patient referrals. During such transfers, 108 ambulances should be equipped with necessary heat protection equipment, including ice packs, cold water, towels, ORS packets, ice cubes, IV fluids, and anti-diarrhoeal drugs.

Additionally, the NHM directed the creation of public awareness campaigns at district and block levels through self-help group members, educating communities about heat-related illnesses and preventive measures.

Temperature Trends and Weather Forecast

Meanwhile, maximum temperatures have been steadily rising across Jharkhand. On Thursday, key cities recorded notable increases:

1. Ranchi: 30.4°C, 0.9°C above normal
2. Jamshedpur: 34.6°C, 1°C above normal
3. Daltonganj: 33.7°C, a 1.5°C rise from normal
4. Bokaro: 35.1°C, a significant 5.5°C rise from normal
5. Chaibasa: 34.8°C, a rise of 4.1°C above normal, the highest in the state

A weather bulletin issued by the Ranchi office of the India Meteorological Department indicated that the state will not experience any major shift in maximum temperature over the next two days. However, from March 8 to March 11, the maximum temperature is likely to increase by 2–3°C, underscoring the urgency of the NHM's preparedness measures.