NewsClick

NewsClick
  • हिन्दी
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Covid-19
  • Science
  • Culture
  • India
  • International
  • Sports
  • Articles
  • Videos
search
menu

SUBSCRIBE AND SUPPORT

image/svg+xml
  • All Articles
  • Newsclick Articles
  • All Videos
  • Newsclick Videos
  • हिन्दी
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Science
  • Culture
  • India
  • Sports
  • International
  • Africa
  • Latin America
  • Palestine
  • Nepal
  • Pakistan
  • Sri Lanka
  • US
  • West Asia
About us
Grievance Redressal Mechanism
Newsletter
Facebook - Newsclick Twitter - Newsclick Instagram - Newsclick Youtube - Newsclick RSS - Newsclick
close menu
×
You deserve independent, critical media. Subscribe and Support
Politics
India

Bihar’s Heat Action Plan Fails to Take off Amid Heatwave

The Nitish Kumar government is yet to set up a separate ward for heatstroke patients in government hospitals.
Mohd. Imran Khan
16 Apr 2022
Bihar’s Heat Action Plan Fails to Take off Amid Heatwave

Image Courtesy: PTI

Patna: Four years after its announcement, the Nitish Kumar-led National Democratic Alliance’s much-hyped Heat Action Plan has failed to take off.

Amid the raging heatwave in Bihar, the state government has only issued instructions like last year on preparation, mitigation and response activities to the districts. For example, the state government is yet to set up a separate or dedicated ward for heatstroke patients in government hospitals. The government has neither constructed resting sheds for MGNREGA workers nor made provisions for drinking water.

According to the programme’e department-wise action plan, the health department should ensure that separate beds/isolation wards are earmarked at PHCs, district hospitals, medical colleges and private hospitals (if the need arises) for the treatment of heatstroke patients. Besides, the department should ensure that adequate quantities of lifesaving medicines, fluids and ORS are stocked at all PHCs, HSCs, district hospitals and medical colleges.

Patna district civil surgeon Dr Vibha Kunari Singh told Newsclick that no special wards for heatstroke or sunstroke patients has been set up at government hospitals. A dedicated ward for heatstroke was not set up due to lack of space and infrastructure at the hospitals. “We are working to set up a special heatstroke ward in each hospital with the new building for hospitals coming up.” Singh admitted that heatstroke patients are being treated in general wards or in the emergency depending on their condition.

Newsclick contacted more than a dozen PHCs in Patna, Gaya and Aurangabad districts, where officials said that no separate beds or wards have been assigned for heatstroke patients. “We have been directed to provide treatment to heatstroke patients but there is no plan to set up separate wards,” an official on duty at a PHC in Gaya said.

Senior doctors said that the plan’s stress on separate beds and special wards for heatstroke patients is an essential part of treatment. They pointed out that heatstroke could be life-threatening if not treated on time. A heatstroke patient needs an airconditioned room, ice-cold water , health monitors and other facilities.

In 2019, hospitals were unable to deal with the increasing number of heatstroke patients as around 150 died mainly in Gaya, Aurangabad and Patna.

A Panchayat Rozgar Sewak of MGNREGA posted in Madanpur block, Gaya, said that the plan exists only on paper. “There is no facility for drinking water and resting sheds for the poor MGNREGA workers,” he said.

As per the plan, the rural development department should “ensure resting sheds, drinking water, availability of ORS at all the MGNREGA working sites. There are only a few public drinking water spots despite the plan making it compulsory at all construction sites.

The state government has noted that Bihar has been facing intense heatwaves since 2005. After the temperature crossed 42-43 degrees in several districts in the state in the last few days, the government was forced to advise people to take care while going out during day time. Local IMD officials predict that the temperature may touch 44 degrees at a few places in the next two to three days.

Get the latest reports & analysis with people's perspective on Protests, movements & deep analytical videos, discussions of the current affairs in your Telegram app. Subscribe to NewsClick's Telegram channel & get Real-Time updates on stories, as they get published on our website.
Bihar
Nitish Kumar
NDA
BJP
JDU
heatwave
heatstroke
sunstroke
Hospitals
Related Stories
bulldozer

Bihar: Nepali Nagar Residents Disillusioned With BJP's Bulldozer Politics After Demolition Drive

eknath

Maharashtra Floor Test: CM Eknath Shinde Wins; 11 Congress MLAs Absent

Kashmir 4g

J&K BJP Denies Alleged Links With LeT’s Most-Wanted Captured Member

bjp

Hate Ecosystem: Is BJP Losing the Plot?

Assam, Patanjali to Cultivate Palm Oil Despite Warnings

Assam: Patanjali to Cultivate Palm Oil Despite Warnings

Aarey

Green Activists, Parties Hold Protest Against Govt's Decision to Construct Metro Car Shed at Aarey

Uddhav's Letter Removing Shinde as 'Shiv Sena Leader' to be Challenged, Says MLA Kesarkar

Uddhav's Letter Removing Shinde as 'Shiv Sena Leader' to be Challenged, Says MLA Kesarkar

Bihar flood.

Bihar: Flood-like Situation in Many Districts due to Heavy Rainfall

Uddhav Thackrey Resignation

Maharashtra: Big Twist in Tale Creates Ripples in Shiv Sena, BJP Rank and File

Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis

Maharashtra: Rebel Sena MLA Eknath Shinde to be New CM, Announces BJP’s Fadnavis

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare via EmailShare on RedditShare on KindlePrint
Share
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare via EmailShare on RedditShare on KindlePrint
Share
You deserve independent, critical media. We want readers like you. Support independent, critical media. Subscribe to Newsclick.

Subscribe and Support


Latest

  • Delhi HC

    Airmen Exam Qualifying Candidates Petition Delhi HC Against Delay in Results

  • cover image

    Insecure Work Sites, Denial of Minimum Wages: Survey Highlights Willful Violations of Labour Laws in Delhi

  • WB Chit Fund Scam: With Refund Process Stuck, Victims Threaten Gherao of Nabanna

    WB Chit Fund Scam: With Refund Process Stuck, Victims Threaten Gherao of Nabanna

  • Kaali Poster row: Two FIRs Filed Against Filmmaker Leena Manimekalai in Delhi, UP

    Kaali Poster row: Two FIRs Filed Against Filmmaker Leena Manimekalai in Delhi, UP

  • Load More
Newsletter
About us
Grievance Redressal Mechanism