The Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department has made directions to the health facilities in province for following and execution of standard operating procedures (SOPs). The alert has been made ahead of an expected rise in the level of mercury.
Notably, during the past week, the Meteorological Department has made warning that the presence of high pressure in the upper atmosphere would result in the heatwave conditions in the most part of the nation, mainly in Punjab and Sindh from May 21 and a severe heatwave from May 23 to 27.
It added that, “Mercury level during the daytime were likely to remain 4-6°C above normal level in Sindh and Punjab from May 21 to 23 and 6-8°C from May 23-27.”
The Punjab government on Friday had reduced the timings of all public and private schools from May 18 to May 31.
Meanwhile, the provincial health department has made directives to the chief executive officers of all the districts health authorities and the medical superintendents of tertiary care hospitals, district headquarters hospitals (DHQs) and tehsil headquarters hospitals (THQs).
The department of health has also made directions to the officials to hold coordination meetings with all the stakeholders and to set up the responsibility matrix of each department.
Officials were further told to share the details to public on ways to avoid the heat and limit outdoor activity, proper hydration and the ways to handle an emergency situation.
It added that, “All the water coolers, with plenty of clean water and air conditioners shall be functional all across the health facilities, without fail and all medicines should be made available across all the health facilities round the clock.”
The health department officials have also asked people to limit their outdoor activity, using the protective measures when out in the sunlight and avoiding laborious work in direct sunlight.
While alerting the general public on this, the director general of the Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), Irfan Ali Kathia, said that, the citizens were being informed about the dangers of the heatwaves through online and social media.
Sharing the message, he said that, “Do not step out of the house unnecessarily. Wear light coloured cotton clothes.”
