Heatwave likely to hit most parts of Sindh

Emergency imposed in health facilities across province

KARACHI:

The Pakistan Meteorological Department has said that the high pressure is likely to grip the upper atmosphere due to which the temperature in most parts of the country will increase gradually from Sunday.

In Sindh the heatwave will be impacting Jamshoro, Thatta, Badin, Hyderabad, Sanghar, Khairpur, Naushero Feroze, Dadu, Sukkur, Larkana, Ghotki, Jacobabad, Mirpurkhas and Umerkot. The day temperatures is expected to above normal by six to eight degrees Celsius in upper and central Sindh.

The Sindh health department has declared a 24/7 emergency and issued an advisory to all health facilities across the province.

In order to reduce the effects of heatwave on the people, the health department has outlined a procedure that will be followed throughout the province. A Control Room will also be established to facilitate people in the province.

According to the procedure, special wards would be set up with availability of air conditioning, ice, back-up electric supply and water supply to handle the heatstroke cases.

The department has also cancelled all leaves of the staff and issued warning that no absence from the work will be allowed for medics and paramedics during the heatwave emergency.

Deployment of healthcare staff will commence as needed to the regions most affected.

The health department has issued directive to the health facilities to ensure uninterrupted supply of heatwave treatment supplies such as IV fluids, ORS, cannulas.

Mass awareness campaigns are also underway to ensure that the people know about the heatwave and ways to prevent its effects.

Advisory issued to farmers

Advisor on agriculture, Manzoor Hussain Wassan has advised the farmers to refrain from working from 12 noon to 4pm and cover their heads with cloth. He said, irrigate crops when needed.

He also directed all the district officers of the agriculture department to set up camps to facilitate farmers and in case of severe shortage of water the crops should be sprayed with water in the morning and evening.

He also asked the farmer to immediately go to the nearest hospital in case of health-heatstroke symptoms.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 13^th, 2022.