The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has urged all public and private health facilities in the city to report cases and deaths related to heat-related illnesses and heat stroke.
At a meeting on monday (April 18) between AMC health department officials and doctors from 9 public sector hospitals and Urban Health’s Centres, the civic body urged hospitals to begin reporting heat-related illnesses immediately (UHCs).
The civic body also issued letters to all zonal health officers, asking them to urge private doctors to report such cases and deaths.
The first Heat Action Plan (HAP) in India was implemented in Ahmedabad a decade ago in 2013.
As a result, the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital on Monday, in addition to reporting cases, established two special wards for patients with heat-related illnesses, one for adults and one for children.
In the sweltering heat, they also started a roaming water vending service across the Medicity campus to assist caregivers of patients.
Dr Rakesh Joshi, Medical Superintendent of Ahmedabad Civil Hospital said, “We have started two special wards for patients of heat-related problems today. We are further developing detailed Standard Operating Protocols (SOPs) regarding diagnosis and treatment of various stages of symptoms before full blown heat stroke. This should be ready in a couple of days.”
Dr Kirangiri Goswami, Assistant RMO of GMERS Sola MCH also said that regular reporting of heat stroke cases and deaths would be sent to the civic body.
Dr Tejas Shah, in-charge of the Heat Action Plan said, “We have reached out to all government and municipal healthcare centres and also to private doctors. We have been assured of cooperation in reporting heat stroke cases and deaths this year.”